Dakini Dreams

Dakini Dreams Has Moved

2010-12-05T16:51:00.003-07:00

I hope you will continue to follow me at the new Dakini Dreams.

You can also find me on...

I will be leaving this blog online indefinitely but this will be my final post here.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-12-04T16:08:00.002-07:00

This is a LandSat image of Dragon Lake, Siberia and the design for the tapestry I'm preparing to start this evening.

I came across NASA's LandSat website, started looking through their image gallery, and was immediately hooked. Some of the images are really amazing and will make beautiful abstracts so I downloaded a number of them for possible use as tapestry designs. I'm starting with one of the simpler images and if I'm happy with the results of the first weaving, it might make for the beginning of a interesting series.

The loom is warped for the new piece which will be 10 inches wide and 8 inches high and you can see the printout of the design behind the warp threads.

Using Adobe Photoshop, I applied a filter to the original image and stripped out some of the detail in order to make the pattern easier to follow as I'm weaving.

I'll be using Tahki Cotton Classic yarn for this piece and these are the colors I've selected. This is a 100% mercerized cotton yarn that comes in a huge range of colors (125 colors) and has a bit of a shine to it. It reminds me a lot of the Pearl Cotton that I use in my smaller pieces. It also has a nice smooth texture to it so it's quick and easy to weave with.

I feel like I've had so many false starts and am just now beginning to develop a good working relationship with the new loom. It was a bit of an adjustment getting used to using the shedding device since I was used to using treadles. I never realize how much I work on auto-pilot until I started working with the new loom.

Disclosure: October 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, I'm participating in Mirrix Loom's "Social Market for a Mirrix" campaign. In exchange for receiving a free 16" Mirrix Loom, I have agreed to provide the following each week detailing my experiences with the loom: a minimum of 2 blog posts (DakiniDreams.blogspot.com, DakiniDreams.com, MirrixMarketing.blogspot.com), 1 YouTube video, and postings on Facebook and Twitter.

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-12-01T20:11:00.002-07:00

Progressive Thinking

"You may find yourself in a mind-set today that seems quite progressive, even avant-garde. This forward-thinking attitude comes with the understanding that the future is full of infinite possibilities, so thinking outside the box is as much an act of creation as it is a step toward innovation. You may be imagining ways to move your personal life closer to that of your dreams or to make your business more deeply meaningful as well as successful. You may be seeking educating and enlightening ways to enjoy time with your family or creative ways to give back to your community. Free your thinking from all boundaries today as you create your life and potentially change the world.

As we imagine ways in which to manifest our goals and dreams, we may realize that the possibilities are far more than we can envision. We can move forward in many directions at once, while also leaving doors open for the universe to bring us something unexpected. As we reflect on the underlying values of our goals, we may see the ways in which the universe has already created them for us in avant-garde ways, bringing us more specifically and beautifully what we need. We may then choose to refine our goals. The source of progressiveness truly is the universe itself, and as we align ourselves with its energy we create our dreams. Today let your forward thinking be the first steps in the full manifestation of your goals and desires." - Daily Om

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-12-01T13:48:00.003-07:00

I've tried to think of a positive way to spin this but the reality is...

The Southwest landscape weaving is now residing in the wastebasket beside my work table. I just wasn't happy with it and the more I worked on it, the more frustrated I became. It was the sky and the valley area that was causing the problems for me. I just couldn't get that illusion of depth and distance that I was looking for. When I found myself starting to dread going into the studio to weave, I decided life's too short to spend time working on something that wasn't making me happy and it came off the loom. No, there are no more pictures, it was that bad.

On a more positive note, someone contacted me Monday evening about commissioning a small tapestry so that will likely be the next project. But, while I'm working out the details for that project, I decided to work on a quickie project and use up some of the remnants of yarn, fiber, and ribbon I've been collecting.

For this piece, I warped the loom using regular bulky yarn instead of C-Lon cord then used the same yarn for the weft, incorporating the scraps as I worked. The piece is about 10 inches wide and 12 inches high. I'm thinking about attaching a handmade mask in the middle of the weaving then mounting the piece on a black background and framing it.

Social Market for a Mirrix Video #5

2010-11-28T18:42:00.002-07:00

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-27T15:26:00.002-07:00

Here's where I'm at right now with the Southwestern landscape. There hasn't been a lot of progress since Wednesday's blog post due to the holiday but I'm looking forward to having some dedicated time in the studio over the next few days to get some weaving done.

I cropped and rotated one of the photos to give you an idea of what it will eventually look like when it's finished.

I'm still working out what I'm going to use for the sky. One of the things I love about living in the Southwest is the sunsets but replicating those colors is always a challenge. Nothing that I've tried so far is quite right.

And I may do the next version in 3/2 Pearl Cotton instead of my original plan. The Pearl Cotton has such a beautiful sheen to it and there are so many colors to choose from that you can create incredible nuanced details in weavings.

There have been so many new ideas that I want to try coming up lately that I've started keeping a journal on my work table to make notes of ideas and color combinations. There just aren't enough hours in a day.

For those of you interested in seeing some truly beautiful tapestry work, take a look at the Artist Pages on the American Tapestry Alliance's website.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-24T16:32:00.003-07:00

Okay, here's where I'm at right now. As you can see, the rock faces that make up what will be the left side of the tapestry are done and I'm working my way up what will eventually be the bottom of the tapestry. I'm not sure I'm completely happy with the way the rocks currently look but I'm reserving final judgment until the piece is completed and off the loom.

Once this piece is finished, I'm planning to do another version using the same yarns but with the cartoon oriented correctly. I think it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences between the two pieces based on the direction of the weaving.

I'm heading to the Needle's Eye this weekend to see if I can find some yarn for the sky that will make me happy. Something variegated with blues and sunset colors.

On another note, I'm loving the recycled silk yarn from India. Such lush vibrant colors. Right now I'm picturing it combined with black yarn in a large wall hanging. Maybe with some gold or bronze metallic fibers. And beads. Lots and lots of beads.

If you have a few minutes, check out Weaving Today's blog post "Of Memory and Hope" and the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco, a nonprofit organization working to promote the history and production of traditional Peruvian textiles.

Social Market for a Mirrix Video #4

2010-11-21T16:42:00.002-07:00

Disclosure: October 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, I'm participating in Mirrix Loom's "Social Market for a Mirrix" campaign. In exchange for receiving a free 16" Mirrix Loom, I have agreed to provide the following each week detailing my experiences with the loom: a minimum of 2 blog posts (DakiniDreams.blogspot.com, DakiniDreams.com, MirrixMarketing.blogspot.com), 1 YouTube video, and postings on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-20T14:20:00.002-07:00

I started a small tapestry this morning. In order to create my cartoon, I pulled up the photo I wanted to use in Adobe Photoshop (I'm using Creative Suite 4), re-sized it to 7 1/2 inches high by 10 inches wide, set the mode to Grayscale, applied the Photocopy filter, then printed a black and white version, as well as a color version. This is basically the same process I use when I'm creating transparencies to create solarplates for printmaking. There's really more detail than I need in the cartoon for this version of the tapestry but it will be useful later.

The black and white version is placed behind my warp threads to provide the pattern for me to follow as I'm weaving and the color version hangs on the wall in front of me as a color reference. Picture red rock cliffs, a valley, blue sky with the beginnings of a sunset.

As you can see, I have the cartoon rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Since I'm using a variegated yarn for the rock faces, working in this direction gives the rocks a more natural look. Once again, I'm using the Feza Fiona in earth tones for the rock faces.

While I was mucking about in Photoshop earlier I created a number of cartoons for future tapestries including a couple of abstracts that I'm really excited about. The color variations are gradual and very subtle so they're probably going to be a test of my patience. And I need to find just the right fibers to work with.

One thing I've decided after working on the 16" Mirrix is that I'm going to upgrade to the largest Mirrix loom in 2011. I'm really starting to feel the need to begin working large.

Don't forget to stop by WeaveZine to hear Syne's interview with Claudia. I have a very eclectic (okay, okay, I'm more than a bit eccentric) background so I'm always fascinated by how people got started doing what they do.

Also, check out the blog 'the gift half understood'. She's doing some really interesting sculptural work with weaving "influenced by monolithic standing stones, burial rituals, stone surfaces, and offerings."

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-17T15:42:00.003-07:00

Well, the weaving is off the loom and the warp threads are tied off. Now I can start thinking about the additional fibers that will be integrated into the piece, as well as the beads. It definitely needs more texture and color and I think it's going to be one of those pieces that has to be totally over-the-top in order to work. I'm still not a fan of the Ozark Handspun so I probably won't be working with it again.

But, enough of this silly experimentation and down to serious business. I just received the Call for Entries for "Small Expressions 2011" from the Handweavers Guild of America. Three pieces (less than 15" in any direction) can be entered and the deadline is March 7, 2011 so that gives me plenty of time. Unfortunately, this also reminded me that the deadline for the American Tapestry Alliance's show "Small Tapestry International 2: Passages" is November 30, 2010. Oh well, there's always next year. I need a better system for tracking deadlines.

Anyway, the next piece that I'll be working on will be a more traditional tapestry for entry into the HGA show. I'll have the first cartoon done, the colors selected, and the loom warped and ready to start for Saturday's post.

Disclosure: October 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, I'm participating in Mirrix Loom's "Social Market for a Mirrix' campaign. In exchange for receiving a free 16" Mirrix Loom, I have agreed to provide the following each week detailing my experiences with the loom: a minimum of 2 blog posts (DakiniDreams.blogspot.com, DakiniDreams.com, MirrixMarketing.blogspot.com), 1 YouTube video, and postings on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Market for a Mirrix Video #3

2010-11-14T12:38:00.002-07:00

Disclosure: October 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, I'm participating in Mirrix Loom's "Social Market for a Mirrix" campaign. In exchange for receiving a free 16" Mirrix Loom, I have agreed to provide the following each week detailing my experiences with the loom: a minimum of 2 blog posts (DakiniDreams.blogspot.com, DakiniDreams.com, MirrixMarketing.blogspot.com), 1 YouTube video, and postings on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-13T07:00:00.004-07:00

And now for Plan B. As I mentioned in the previous post, I wasn't all that warm and fuzzy about the way the new weaving was turning out. So, I pulled out what I had done and started fresh with a new direction. This is much more what I had envisioned so I'm feeling better about the piece now.

Here's what the beginning of the first weaving looked like before I dismantled it. Yep, that's it... pink and lumpy.

I thought I would show you a picture of the warped loom with shedding device and heddles attached. The loom is warped with black C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord.

And here's the new yarn I'm starting with. This is Maya cotton bulky yarn by Tahki Yarns in black.

And here's where I'm at with the new piece.

The pinkish / grayish areas are sections of the Ozark Handspun from the previous piece that I'm using to randomly fill in areas. Once the piece is finished and off the loom, I will be turning it 90 degrees and embellishing with beads and maybe some found objects. I want the texture to be running vertically instead of horizontally because I think it gives the weaving more of a feeling of movement.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Well, after several false starts, the pieces seem to be holding together. But, it's not quite what I had originally envisioned.

I started by weaving a 1/2 border at the bottom with #5 pearl cotton embroidery thread in order to give it some stability. The piece is 10 inches wide and right now is feeling a little too "bunchy". I'm not sure I'm all that wild about the Ozark Handspun yarn either. So, here's where I'm at right now...

The first picture below shows the Ozark Handspun yarn. As you can see, it's a very rough, unfinished fiber. The second and third pictures show the additional fibers I had planned to pull from.

Before I invest any more time going in a direction I don't think I'm going to be happy with, I may pull out what I've done, start with selections from the random yarns, then fill in smaller sections with the Ozark Handspun because I really do like those "feathery" sections.

I'm still going for a fiber collage and I did say this was going to be experimental so please bear with me while I sort things out. I think once I get going in the right direction, the piece will come together fairly quickly.

Social Market for a Mirrix Video #2

2010-11-07T15:16:00.003-07:00

Disclosure: October 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, I'm participating in Mirrix Loom's "Social Market for a Mirrix" campaign. In exchange for receiving a free 16" Mirrix Loom, I have agreed to provide the following each week detailing my experience with the loom: a minimum of 2 blog posts (DakiniDreams.blogspot.com, DakiniDreams.com, MirrixMarketing.blogspot.com), 1 YouTube video, and postings on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-06T13:19:00.002-06:00

The first small (5 inch x 7 inch) tapestry is finished. The first picture shows the completed piece before I cut it off the loom. As you can see, there was more than enough space to warp for a second weaving if I had planned ahead.

This second picture is a close-up of the piece while it was still on the loom. You can get a better idea of the colors and texture in this photo. It still feels like a Southwestern landscape to me. I'm going to live with it for a couple of weeks before I make a decision on embellishing it with beads.

This is before I tied off the warp threads. For some reason, in this photo the weaving looks really uneven but my ruler says it isn't.

And a close up to show the color and texture variation.

One of the things that I really like about the loom is that it's very well-constructed and at 6 lbs., doesn't shift around while I'm weaving.

So, lessons learned and things I would do differently:

Using the shedding device would definitely have made weaving this piece much easier and faster especially because of the fibers I selected.
In order to incorporate the beads I want to use into the weaving, I'm going to have to experiment a bit more to come up with a solution that I'm happy with. I spent a lot of time unweaving sections to remove beads because I didn't like the way they looked.

I'll be posting video #2 tomorrow showing the start of the next piece. Also, I'm getting the projects set up on Weavolution so you'll be able to follow along there if you're so inclined. I'll post a link to the projects when they're ready. There's also a Mirrix Looms group on Weavolution.

I'll leave you with some eye candy... Maximo Laura, a Peruvian tapestry weaver. I want to be him when I grow up.

Disclosure: October 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, I'm participating in Mirrix Loom's "Social Market for a Mirrix" campaign. In exchange for receiving a free 16" Mirrix Loom, I have agreed to provide the following each week detailing my experience with the loom: a minimum of 2 blog posts (DakiniDreams.blogspot.com, DakiniDreams.com, MirrixMarketing.blogspot.com), 1 YouTube video, and postings on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-11-03T00:01:00.004-06:00

Here's where I'm at right now with this small tapestry. The piece is currently 4.5 inches wide and 5.5 inches long. I'm thinking 7 inches long will be about right. So, another 1.5 inches to go. Once it's off the loom, I'll decide whether to embellish it with beads or not. It feels a little bit like a landscape to me.

I've started thinking about the next project and pulling supplies out of my storage bins. I have some great Frabjous Fibers Sari Ribbon that I haven't worked with before which could be interesting. The colors are jewel tones and are absolutely gorgeous. Maybe embellish the piece with embroidery and beads once it's off the loom. Or maybe monoprint the final piece before it's beaded. I think it would have to be a fairly large piece in order to do the Sari Ribbon justice though.

I'm also thinking about doing a monotone piece using yarns of different textures for variation. Maybe all in white or shades of white. I never work in white so that could be a challenge.

I also came across some Ozark Handspun in pinks and greys during my scavenger hunt which would be interesting to use in a freeform piece. Sort of a "fiber collage" type of weaving.

And then there's the fabric that I monoprinted during my printmaking days that could be torn into strips and woven.

Social Market for a Mirrix Video #1

2010-10-31T17:38:00.005-06:00

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-10-30T14:53:00.005-06:00

A new piece has been started which will be a small tapestry. Originally I had planned to incorporate beads into the weaving but I wasn't satisfied with the way they looked so I removed them. They may make an appearance later in the piece or I may just wait and add them as an embellishment after the tapestry is completed.

I'm finally adjusting to weaving on a different loom so I'm starting to get back into the flow and not feel as though I'm all thumbs. Still getting a bit organized though... heddles and a bottom spring kit have been ordered which should smooth out some of the rough spots and speed things up. Although, I'm one of those weavers who likes to work without much of a plan so I tend to try things and if I'm not happy, I spend time undoing what I did instead of just living with it. This piece is actually moving along fairly quickly though.

I'm working with Feza Fiona yarn which is a combination of a narrow plied strand, superfine nylon string, and a fluffy single fiber of acrylic, nylon, and mohair all twisted together. I love the color and texture variations but it's kind of a pain to work with.

Since I do most of my weaving on Saturday and Sunday, I will be posting to the Inside Mirrix blog on Wednesdays and Saturdays and I will be posting a video on YouTube on Sundays.

Welcome to Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-10-27T12:01:00.001-06:00

As you can see, the 16" Mirrix loom has arrived.

Not having worked on this type of loom before, I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to get it set up and warped. But Mirrix has really great documentation available on their website that took me through the process step-by-step. So, all things considered, the first warping experience was fairly quick and painless. I haven’t worked on a tapestry loom in a while so things felt awkward at first then I got into the flow.

My goal is to complete at least 2 different projects per month during the next 4 months of the “Social Market for a Mirrix” campaign. This first project was started using #5 DMC pearl cotton and will basically be a sampler for me to get used to working on the loom and for me to test different fibers and beads before embarking on a larger and more ambitious project.

There is a multitude of ways to follow the projects depending on your social media preferences…blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. You can follow the projects at:

Mirrix's blog: Inside Mirrix

My blog: Dakini Dreams

Twitter: Sapphire_Dakini (hashtag #mirrix)

Mirrix's Facebook Page

My Facebook Profile

My Facebook Page

I Couldn't Resist

2010-10-22T13:59:00.005-06:00

I heard yesterday the Mirrix loom has been shipped and I should receive it early next week. So in preparation for kicking off the "Social Market for a Mirrix" campaign next week, I treated myself to an assortment of new embroidery thread and yarn.

Needle's Eye here in Santa Fe is closing at the end of December so I'm taking advantage of her clearance sale to stock up on items I use all the time and pick up an assortment of yarns that I don't usually work with. I'm feeling the urge to experiment with new colors and different textures.

Social Market for a Mirrix

2010-10-17T08:34:00.005-06:00

I'm so excited! I entered the "Social Market for a Mirrix" contest and found out on Friday I won!

So, over the next 4 months I'll be sharing via blog posts, pictures, videos on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. the new projects that I'll be creating on a 16" Mirrix loom.

Stay tuned for pictures of the stash of fibers I'll be working with and the exact date the project starts.

Harlequin

2010-10-09T16:41:00.001-06:00

This weaving has been on my work table for 2 months. First I couldn't find the right shade of pink. Then I couldn't find the right shade of green (still not sure about the green). I finally finished it today. I find I'm really not being drawn to bright colors right now. Since I moved to Santa Fe, I'm finding earth tones much more interesting to work with.

Addition to My Art Library

2010-10-08T15:47:00.001-06:00

"Known today for colorful, decorative yarn paintings renowned in the global art market, the indigenous Huichols of western Mexico have retained their unique culture and arts, creating traditional art and practicing ancient rituals that pre-date Spanish contact. The origins of modern Huichol art are found in the early religious arts that form the outstanding collection of Robert M. Zingg, the first American anthropologist to conduct extended fieldwork among the Huichol (1934-1935). Drawing from the Zingg collection housed at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, this extensive volume features a vast array of Huichol art including textiles, prayer arrows, richly decorated votive gourd bowls, featherwork, and beaded jewelry. Accompanying essays by noted Huichol scholars including C. Jill Grady, Peter T. Furst, and Hope MacLean, explore the anthropological history of the Huichol and the themes of their unique cultural arts. Also included are rare field photographs taken by Zingg, documenting the annual ceremonial and agricultural cycles and many of the collected objects in use."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-10-06T09:00:00.001-06:00

Ready for Change
Declaring Our Intentions

If you want to produce change in your life,

take the time to declare it to the universe in whatever way feels right.

There comes a point in most of our lives when we feel ready to experience a change we've had trouble carrying out. Maybe we've been stuck in a home, a relationship, job, or a town that hasn't felt right for a long time, but we've been unable to shift our circumstances in the direction we want to go. At times like this, it can help to declare to the universe that we are ready for a change. Think of it as informing a helpful friend that you need her assistance to move to the next level in your life. If the time is right, the universe will respond with opportunities and offers designed to help you create the change you wish to see.

You can begin the process of making your declaration by getting clear within yourself about what exactly you want to change. Whenever we ask anyone for help, they can assist us that much better if we are specific. The universe also appreciates our clarity and has an easier time answering a direct communication than a vague yearning. When you are clear on what you want, write your declaration on a piece of paper and place it on your altar, if you have one. If you don't, you can also place it under your pillow or in a box on your nightstand. Set aside a period of time every day to be silent with your wishes for change, repeating your declaration like a mantra. This lets the universe know that you are ready to change and will be receptive to its efforts.

Feel free to continue to refine and redefine your declaration, and remember to be open to the many different ways in which the change you seek might come to be. Remember also to be active in your own efforts, taking opportunities that come your way, watching for signs, and always taking responsibility for your intentions. If things don't happen quickly, try not to be discouraged, it might take time to free up energy that has been blocked and possibly serving a purpose beyond what we can understand. If you continue your conversation with the universe, declaring yourself clearly and openly, you cannot help but experience the magic of changing and being changed. - Daily Om

Celebrate Spinning & Weaving Week

2010-10-04T01:00:00.003-06:00

October 4th - 10th is Spinning and Weaving Week and it's the perfect season to explore New Mexico's Fiber Arts Trails. Not only can you experience the work of more than 200 of New Mexico's most amazing fiber artists at 71 locations, you can also enjoy the colors of autumn. Trust me, it's beautiful here this time of year.

Not up for a road trip? Then consider spending time in your own studio experimenting with a new technique or two. Maybe something you've always wanted to try but kept putting off because your other projects took precedent or life got in the way.

How am I planning to celebrate? I'll be spending some concentrated time in my studio weaving, as well as researching various weaving techniques used by indigenous cultures. I'm feeling the need to be a lot more experimental in my work than I have been lately. I'm also going to check out the local Guild.

Whatever you do, don't forget to support the fiber arts suppliers that depend on us for their livelihoods.

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-10-01T20:00:00.015-06:00

A Moment of Choice
Starting New

Starting something new allows us to choose to reset knowing that

with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward.

There are times in our lives that lend themselves to starting something new. The beginning of a new year, finishing school, leaving a job, or changing homes -- these all are times that turn our minds to fresh starts. Their advantage is that they bring with them the energy of that event, creating a tide of change around them that we can ride to our next shoreline. But we can choose to start anew anytime. In any moment we can decide that a bad day or a relationship that's gotten off on the wrong foot can be started again. It is a mental shift that allows us to clean the slate and approach anything with fresh eyes, and we can make that choice at any time.

Starting new is most powerful when we focus our attention on what we are choosing to create. Giving all of our attention to the unwanted aspects of our lives allows what we resist to persist. We need to remember to leave enough room in the process of new beginnings to be kind to ourselves, because it takes time to become accustomed to anything new, no matter how much we like it. There is no need to get down on ourselves if we don't reach our new goals instantly. Instead, we acknowledge the forward motion and choose to reset and start again, knowing that with each choice we learn, grow, and move forward.

Making the choice to start anew has its own energy -- it's a promise made to you. The forward momentum creates a sort of vacuum behind it, pulling toward you all you need to help you continue moving in your chosen direction. Once the journey has begun, it may take unexpected turns, but it never really ends. Like cycles in nature, there are periods of obvious growth and periods of dormancy that signal a time of waiting for the right moment to burst forth. Each time we choose to start anew we dedicate ourselves to becoming the best we are able to be. - Daily Om

Are the Wasps Messengers?

2010-10-01T17:03:00.000-06:00

I've found a wasp in my apartment every day this week which is a little odd since I haven't had a problem with them until now. I have absolutely no idea how they're getting in. Wasps freak me out so I spend my day scurrying from room to room basically avoiding whichever room the wasp is in at the time. Great exercise for me and probably extremely entertaining to the wasp.

After listening to the astrology reading I had last Friday again, I started to wonder about the symbolism connected to wasps. Maybe there's a message in their sudden appearance. Yes, we're going to have a woo-woo moment here.

Here's what I found... Wasps symbolize female warriors, evolution, control over our life circumstances, new beginnings, starting new projects, progress, productivity, and communication. These were also the major themes of my astrology reading.

Here's to honoring the wasps and hoping they'll go away now.

Museum Hill, Santa Fe

2010-09-24T17:24:00.013-06:00

I volunteer at the International Folk Art Museum on Thursdays and yesterday was a beautiful autumn day here in Santa Fe. Here's the view from the Museum...

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-09-23T20:53:00.000-06:00

Positively Embrace Your Life

You could feel excited about the things that life has in store for you, and this may make you want to embrace your life wholeheartedly today. It might be that you realize that there is so much on earth that is waiting to be explored and that is fueling your enthusiasm and energizing you. Setting the intention to do things that you might not normally get a chance to do today could be a way in which you can seize all the opportunities and wonders that are available to you today. Perhaps consciously letting go of any negative thoughts you might have that tend to hinder you normally and instead thinking positively about the wonders that surround you today can make it easier for you to become fully involved in and aware of the opportunities that you have. You may find that a large part of your ability to savor your life comes from the way you think about it.

Relishing life arises from the attitude we have toward it. When we have self-defeating thoughts or allow our fear to influence us, it is extremely difficult to see that there is much that is electrifying and thrilling about our lives. Being able to truly delight in our lives really comes from our mental approach to it; if we see everything as a chance to discover, learn, and challenge ourselves, for example, then life has nothing but bright opportunities to offer us. Your excitement for life will increase the more confidently and positively you embrace it today. - Daily Om

Building My Wings on the Way Down

2010-09-21T22:02:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that September is almost over. There's a different quality to the sunlight now, the days are getting shorter, and there's a chill in the air at night. The streets are quieter as the tourist season comes to an end. And soon there'll be the scent of pinon smoke in the air.

Last year around this time I was beginning the process of getting ready to move to Santa Fe to start a new life. That seems like a lifetime ago. This year has definitely been one of transition. And transformation. Like most things in life, 2010 hasn't turned out quite like I had planned. But in some ways, it's been so much better than I ever could have imagined.

This year has been about making new friends, re-connecting with old ones, and putting some relationships to rest. It's been about exploring new interests and opportunities. It's been about a return to textile / fiber art and getting back into the studio on a regular basis. And, thanks to Christine Kane, it's been about believing in myself even when I'm scared and don't know the "how". Trust me, that's huge for a control-freak like me.

Her "Uplevel Your Life" Mastery Plan gave me the framework to really think about what I want from my life and to believe that I can have it. "Uplevel Your Life" also gave me the opportunity to network with other women who are at the same transitional point in their lives. Her Uplevel Your Business Program + Blueprint is providing support and community as I build my marketing services business.

I've released my past and the baggage that I've been dragging around with me for so many years. I've cleared out everything that no longer serves me. And I've opened my imagination to the possibilities of what my life can be like if I'm willing to take those first steps.

Maybe There is Hope

2010-09-20T20:13:00.023-06:00

Can I just say how much I love Smithsonian Magazine!

Once upon a time, I lived in Washington, DC where I spent so many hours at the various Smithsonian museums I could have been a tour guide. Somewhere along the way, I stopped subscribing to the magazine and I have no idea why because it's absolutely fabulous. With all of the doom and gloom on the news every day, this magazine gives me hope that there are solutions to the world's problems and there are actually people out there who are doing something other than bitching and whining and moaning and groaning and complaining. People who are working to make the world a better place.

What I'm Reading

2010-09-19T20:00:00.022-06:00

"A must for anyone wanting to improve their lives and their positive thinking.

Think and Grow Rich is one of the best-selling books of all time. Hill's work examines the power of personal beliefs, and the role they play in personal success. "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve" is one of Hill's hallmark expressions. How achievement actually occurs, and a formula for it that puts success in reach for the average person, are the focal point of Think and Grow Rich."

Walking the Walk

2010-09-13T23:00:00.002-06:00

Everyone who knows me knows that we're moving into my favorite time of year. September has always meant new beginnings to me. I start to feel more creative and alive as the days become crisper and the leaves start to turn. And as always, as the Autumnal Equinox approaches, there's a lot of soul-searching going on here at Dakini Dreams.

It's been an amazing year in ways that I never could have imagined. Christine Kane's Uplevel Your Life Mastery Plan has provided the framework and community to really explore what's important to me, how I want to live my life, and how I want to be of service. And now her Uplevel Your Business Program + Blueprint is providing the framework and community to help me accomplish my goals. There's still a lot of work ahead of me but I'm moving in the right direction.

2010 has marked the return to textile / fiber art with a renewed focus on weaving. While I enjoyed printmaking, I'll probably only continue to pursue that in conjunction with my textile work.

Volunteering at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market introduced me to Kala Raksha and gave me the opportunity to meet and work with several of their artists. There are currently 2 initiatives seeking funding by Kala Raksha. The first is the Museum for Women Artisans of Kutch, India. The Museum serves more than 1,500 artisans enabling them to study their culture and traditions and incorporate those studies into their textile art. Not only do these resources enable the artisans to be more competitive in the international art market, it also serves to preserve their traditional patterns, colors and techniques that may otherwise be lost to future generations. The 2nd initiative is Design Educations for Artisans in Kutch, India. Each year Kala Raksha educates 30 artisans in design enabling them to reach new markets and support themselves with their traditional crafts. These are really incredible textiles artists who are extremely passionate about their work. I made my donation yesterday which will cover 1 artisan's study tour to Ahmedabad City.

I also made a small loan through Kiva to Savoeun Houn, a silk weaver in Cambodia. I forget sometimes how lucky I am and how much I have compared to a lot of people in the world so it's time to start giving back.

What I'm Reading

2010-09-12T23:00:00.003-06:00

"Based on Chris Guillebeau's popular online manifesto "A Brief Guide to World Domination," The Art Of Non-Conformity defies common assumptions about life and work while arming you with the tools to live differently. You'll discover how to live on your own terms by exploring creative self-employment, radical goal-setting, contrarian travel, and embracing life as a constant adventure.

Inspired and guided by Chris's own story and those of others who have pursued unconventional lives, you can devise your own plan for world domination -- and make the world a better place at the same time."

What I'm Reading

2010-09-05T06:00:00.004-06:00

"In reality, Hiro Protagonist delivers pizza for Uncle Enzio's CosaNostra Pizza, Inc., but in the Metaverse he's a warrior prince. Plunging headlong into the enigma of a new computer virus that's striking down hackers everywhere, he races along the neon-lit streets on a search-and-destroy mission for the shadowy virtual villain threatening to bring about infocalypse."

Bead Journal Project - August

2010-08-31T13:41:00.011-06:00

August is historically the month when I feel the least creative and this August was no exception. I think it has to do with just not being a huge fan of summer. So, I only managed to finish 1 needleweaving this month.

The colors for this weaving came together purely by accident. I had skeins of embroidery thread spread out on my work table looking for something interesting that would go with black and these 2 colors just happened to be laying next to each other so I thought I would experiment.

Indian Rock Art of the Southwest

2010-08-30T06:00:00.002-06:00

"This comprehensive study of carvings and paintings on stone by Native Americans surveys the rock art of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico, and West Texas from 2,000 B.C. to the 19th century."

I'm working on some ideas to incorporate rock art imagery and petroglyphs into my weavings.

What I'm Reading

2010-08-29T18:46:00.000-06:00

"The Success Principles will teach you how to increase your confidence, tackle daily challenges, live with passion and purpose, and realize all your ambitions. Not merely a collection of good ideas, this book spells out 64 timeless principles used by successful men and women throughout history. Taken together and practiced every day, these principles will transform your life beyond your wildest dreams."

I thought this would be good companion reading as I'm working my way through Christine Kane's "Uplevel Your Life" Mastery Program for the 2nd time and her "Uplevel Your Business" Program + Blueprint which begins tomorrow.

What I'm Reading

2010-08-22T21:28:00.001-06:00

"Katherine Wells's obsession with petroglyphs (images pecked on stone) began in the 1960s. Three decades later, after careers as a teacher, a businessperson, and an artist in Southern California, Wells and Lloyd Dennis, her partner, purchased almost 200 acres near Espanola in northern New Mexico. The large boulders on the property contained many examples of rock art from previous Native inhabitants and the lure was overwhelming.

Wells describes the beginning of her new life and her exploration of the petroglyphs on her new land. Meeting New Mexico archaeologists and local rock art aficionados, and locating previously published information about petroglyphs and the prehistoric inhabitants of the Espanola area, Wells learned to identify the time periods when the glyphs were made and to understand many of the motifs found among the more than 6,000 petroglyphs on the site."

Addition to My Art Library

2010-08-21T15:50:00.001-06:00

"A truly international treatment of its subject, The Spirit of Folk Art draws upon the vast resources of the Girard Collection, amassed by Alexander and Susan Girard and housed at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. Distinguished folklorist and scholar Henry Glassie offers a vigorous and often lyrical discussion of the nature of folk art. More than 345 illustrations, including 285 in full color and 50 field photographs showing the various artists at work, provide a rich complement to Glassie's insights."

Addition to My Art Library

2010-08-21T15:31:00.001-06:00

"What people wear tells the world something about who they are or would like to be. On another level, the textiles created by a people demonstrate that culture's artistic expression of beauty. It has been so from ancient times through modern days.

Textiles: Collection of the Museum of International Folk Art explores the deeper meaning behind the textiles and clothing on display at the museum. Evident is how different cultures have taken the same objects -- shoes, hats, pants, or bedding -- and made them unique to their location and time.

Dress and home decor are about belonging and boundaries, including and excluding. Learn how cultures have developed styles and techniques that reflect their specific situations. Then see how individuals expand those techniques and styles, making something distinctive by following or breaking the rules.

With hundreds of examples from more than 70 countries, Textiles offers a glimpse into the lives and passions of people who created and used the decorative textile pieces displayed so exquisitely here."

Addition to My Art Library

2010-08-21T15:21:00.001-06:00

"Colourful and sometimes complex textiles are still produced in many parts of the world using only the simplest tools and equipment. This book focuses on 8 areas of special interests -- Navaho weaving in North America; bedouin textiles in the Middle East; West African narrow strip weaving; Indonesian textiles; 'kasuri' resist dyeing in Japan; inlay weaving in Nepal; brocaded motifs from Guatemala; and Peruvian tapestry weaving -- and describes the fibres used, the methods of spinning and dyeing, the types of loom and the techniques of weaving. Examples of the best textiles from each area are supplemented with numerous photographs of spinners, weavers, and dyers at work, and diagrams showing how the various effects are achieved. As well as providing students and anthropologists with a valuable insight into working methods in a wide variety of traditional communities, this book and the exciting textiles it illustrates will be an endless source of ideas and inspiration for practising weavers."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-08-20T21:38:00.001-06:00

Without a Net
Living Life with Trust

Living life without a net can be just what we need to step outside of ourselves and make the choices we need most.

As we create the life of our dreams, we often reach a crossroads where the choices seem to involve the risk of facing the unknown versus the safety and comfort of all that we have come to trust. We may feel like a tightrope walker, carefully teetering along the narrow path to our goals, sometimes feeling that we are doing so without a net. Knowing we have some backup may help us work up the courage to take those first steps, until we are secure in knowing that we have the skills to work without one. But when we live our lives from a place of balance and trust in the universe, we may not see our source of support, but we can know that it is there.

If we refuse to act only if we can see the safety net, we may be allowing the net to become a trap as it creates a barrier between us and the freedom to pursue our goals. Change is inherent in life, so even what we have learned to trust can surprise us at any moment. Remove fear from the equation and then, without even wondering what is going on below, we can devote our full attention to the dream that awaits us.

We attract support into our lives when we are willing to make those first tentative steps, trusting that the universe will provide exactly what we need. In that process we can decide that whatever comes from our actions is only for our highest and best experience of growth. It may come in the form of a soft landing, an unexpected rescue or an eye-opening experience gleaned only from the process of falling. So rather than allowing our lives to be dictated by fear of the unknown, or trying to avoid falling, we can appreciate that sometimes we experience life fully when we are willing to trust and fall. And in doing so, we may just find that we have the wings to fly.

When we believe that there is a reason for everything, we are stepping out with the safety net of the universe, and we know we will make the best from whatever comes our way. - Daily Om

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-08-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

Your Passion is Your Purpose

"Your desire to examine your life's overall direction could lead you on a search for a more meaningful life today, for asking yourself what your purpose in this life is might cause you to question the everyday aspects of your existence. This would be a good time to look more closely at what parts of your life ignite your passion the most and how you can incorporate those elements into your life -- for it is your passion that is what ultimately connects you to your higher purpose. Perhaps you can consider what you would do if you didn't have to worry about anything in life -- that is, what truly sings to the depths of your soul. As you explore this more deeply, you may wish to think about whether you are already living this passion. You may find that your direction and purpose become clearer as a result of your self-examination.

Our purpose in life is directly linked to our passion, for it is through passions that the universe has given us the gifts to uncover the greater reason for our existence. If we were inclined to be an artist or writer, for example, our desire to do this type of creative work can propel us to delve further into the reason for our being. By doing what energizes you today, you will move closer to self-realization and have a greater understanding of the meaning of your life -- not only for yourself, but for the whole world." - Daily Om

What I'm Reading

2010-08-08T22:00:00.001-06:00

"Moon Magic sees the return of Dion Fortune's famous heroine Morgan Le Fay, this time in the form of Lilith, Priestess of the Great Goddess of Nature. Now fully in control of her spiritual powers, she establishes an astral temple and begins her magical work. Through telepathy she contacts Malcolm, an unhappy and rather eccentric physician, and they begin working rituals together as Priest and Priestess of Isis. But Malcolm falls in love with Lilith and she begins to feed on his love, sucking off its vigor to keep herself young."

Dion Fortune is now recognized as one of the most influential and important figures in 20th-century occultism. Her works of fiction are highly acclaimed both as vehicles for presenting complex magical and psychical theory and as remarkably powerful pieces of literature. Moon Magic is considered a classic work on the principle of anima and animus, and makes an intriguing study into human -- and superhuman -- relationships.

Ocean Storm

2010-08-07T16:31:00.000-06:00

What I'm Reading

2010-08-01T13:52:00.000-06:00

"Former Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon is being called back into action and teamed with an agent as beautiful as she is deadly. Their target: a cunning Palestinian terrorist who played a dark part in Gabriel's past. And what begins as a manhunt turns into a globe-spanning duel fueled by both political intrigue and deep personal passions."

Hummingbird Trumpet

2010-07-31T23:00:00.042-06:00

Only 1 needleweaving completed this week. For some reason, I got really bogged down with this one. Starting tomorrow, my goal is to complete at least 2 new needleweavings a week.

This is the final week of Christine Kane's "Uplevel Your Life" Mastery Program so I've been reviewing everything that we've covered, as well as revising the intention I set at the beginning of the course. I've also been working on affirmations for each area of my life. I can't believe how quickly the 7 weeks have gone by. And I can't believe how much clearer I am now about what I want, and don't want, in my life.

I also registered for "Uplevel Your Business" Program + Blueprint, Christine's 10-week course on building your business. Yes, I'm officially a Christine Kane groupie and a member of her Affiliate Program.

Basket Sale - August 14th & August 15th

2010-07-29T17:23:00.001-06:00

Basket Sale

Come Support the Women from Zimbabwe and Namibia

whose baskets didn't arrive in time for this year's International Folk Art Market

Saturday & Sunday August 14th & 15th, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

On Milner Plaza / Museum Hill outside the Market's office at the Visitor Center at the top of the stairs

Thanks to all of you who signed up in Juliana's booth to receive information about the sale. Over 500 of you asked to be informed about the sale! Quite a show of support for a group who was heartbroken because their baskets were stuck somewhere in neverland between South Africa and the States. After all their work, the idea that they wouldn't be able to return with their proceeds to support their HIV / AIDS work in the Binga District of Zimbabwe was unbelievably disappointing.

The sale will include baskets from two groups. The first group is from Zimbabwe, the Busungu Mbubupa basket weaving group, an income generating project of Ntengwe for Community Development. They teach HIV / AIDS awareness and develop projects to improve the standard of living in the Binga District. Their beautifully patterned baskets vary in size from 5" to 24", priced from $10 - $40.

The other group represented at the sale will be the Omba Arts Trust. Some of their boxes arrived in time for the Market, but not all of them so we'll also have those baskets as well. These beautiful baskets are from the Kavango and Caprivi Regions. There will also be 13 rare milk baskets for sale. A few years ago, only one woman was able to make these baskets, but since then she's taught another how to make them.

Please come join us up on the Hill and help support these communities!

A Sign From the Universe

2010-07-28T20:53:00.000-06:00

Never let it be said that I let a sign from the universe like today's horoscope from the Daily Om go unheeded.

I registered for Christine Kane's "Uplevel Your Business" Program & Blueprint tonight after her webinar "Your Soul & Your Systems: How to Uplevel Your Business and Double Your Income". Her "Uplevel Your Life" Mastery Program has been such an amazing experience that I want to see what she can do with some of the other pieces of my life that I'm just getting started with.

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-07-28T15:04:00.000-06:00

Making Your Luck

Your belief that things are working out for you may help you see how fortunate you are today, and this winning attitude can go a long way toward allowing you to reach your goals. Being able to clearly see the resources that are available to you and how you can best utilize them might put you in the frame of mind that you need to actively call forth success in your life. Perhaps if you can think of your life as being something that you not only are lucky in but that you also have a working hand in, you might notice that your "luck" is actually due to your ability to transform situations into opportunities rather than mere chances. Seeing your blessings in this way may make it easier to take a more proactive role in manifesting your dreams today.

The potential for good fortune lies within us. If we simply wait for things to go our way, we might notice that while some positive things happen, they are not lasting. They tend to pass along without making a huge impact on our lives. Creating our luck, however, takes an entirely different approach, whereby we look at every situation as something that is lucky -- an opportunity to do something that allows us to better our lives. By consciously working toward your goals today, you will realize that your luck happens because of the energy and intention you put out into the universe. - Daily Om

What I'm Reading

2010-07-25T13:53:00.000-06:00

"Retirement has never sat well with former Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. Now the ghosts of a still-unsolved case are returning to haunt him, reawakened by a photograph in a magazine spread of a one-of-a-kind Navajo rug, a priceless work of woven art that was supposedly destroyed in a suspicious fire many years earlier. The rug, commemorating one of the darkest and most terrible chapters in American history, was always said to be cursed, and now the friend who brought it to Leaphorn's attention has mysteriously gone missing.

With newly wedded officers Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito just back from their honeymoon, the legendary ex-lawman is on his own to pick up the threads of a crime he'd once thought impossible to untangle. And they're leading him back into a world of lethal greed, shifting truths, and changing faces, where a cold-blooded killer still resides."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-07-22T20:54:00.000-06:00

The Life of Your Dreams
Waking Up

Sometimes the life we planned for a limited conception of ourselves no longer fits as we evolve and change.

"Many of us are familiar with the experience of waking up to the fact that our lives are no longer working the way we have set them up. Sometimes this is due to a shift occurring inside ourselves over time, and sometimes it is part of the larger shift that is currently affecting all humanity. Change is happening at such an increased rate that it is difficult to predict what the future holds. As a result, many of the old ways of planning out a life are no longer applicable, and if we cling to them we feel strangely out of tune with reality. If we are in tune with the energies around us, we will begin to question ideas that just a few years ago seemed sensible.

In the simplest terms, the shift we are undergoing right now has to do with recognizing ourselves as being more than human, remembering that our earthly aspects are a very small part of who we are. In truth, we are multidimensional beings. When we begin to realize this, the life we planned for a limited conception of ourselves no longer fits. We must meet the needs and qualifications not only of our bodies but also of our souls. This realization dawns slowly for some and with the suddenness of a bolt of lightning for others, and we all must find the way that works for us to integrate this new and larger sense of self into our life plan.

Sometimes a drastic change feels totally right, and overnight we might decide to sell our home and move to another country or quit our job and begin a second career. Other times, we allow the changes to proceed slowly, beginning perhaps with allowing ourselves to dream of a new life or just to ask the deeper questions that encourage us to discover our true purpose in life. Either way, know that this process is a natural sign of the growth we are all going through, and trust it to guide you to the life of your dreams." - Daily Om

Evergreen

2010-07-20T18:10:00.000-06:00

Experimenting with some of the funkier shades of green. I was surprised to find out how many crystal beads & natural stone beads I have in my stash that match.

"Six Feet Under" marathon starting tomorrow as I plan some new pieces. Feeling the urge to start working on larger pieces now that I'm back in the groove.

Giving "Eat, Pray, Love" Another Try

2010-07-19T14:27:00.005-06:00

I tried reading "Eat Pray Love" a couple of years ago & didn't make it past Italy. But everyone seems to be such a huge fan I thought I would give it another try, this time listening to it on my iPod. She's at the ashram in India now & I'm still not seeing why this book is such a huge hit. What am I missing?

What I'm Reading

2010-07-18T15:08:00.000-06:00

“While Frederica — the spirited heroine of Virgin in the Garden, Still Life, and Babel Tower — falls almost by accident into a career in television in London, tumultuous events in her home county of Yorkshire threaten to change her life and those of the people she loves. In the late 1960s the world begins to split. Near the university, where the scientists Luk and Jacqueline are studying snails and neurons and the working of the brain, an “anti-university” springs up. On the high moors nearby, a gentle therapeutic community is taken over by a turbulent, charismatic leader. Visions of blood and flames, of mirrors and doubles, share the refracting energy of Frederica’s mosaic-like television shows. The languages of religion, myth and fairy-tales overlap with the terms of science and the new computer age. Darkness and light are in perpetual tension and the meaning of love itself seems to vanish; people flounder, often comically, to find their true sexual, intellectual and emotional identity.

Through her wayward, lovingly drawn characters and breath-taking twists of plot, Byatt illuminates the effervescence of the 1960s — both its excitements and its dangers — as no one has done before. A Whistling Woman is the ultimate novel of ideas made flesh — gloriously sensual, sexy and scary, bursting with ideas, contradictions, scientific discoveries, ethical conflicts, sly humor and wonderful humanity.”

Canyon Marble

2010-07-17T19:28:00.000-06:00

Here's my latest needleweaving "Canyon Marble". The colors seem a bit off in the picture. It's really a deep brown / light orange combination. I'm not much of a brown / orange fan so I'm really ambivalent about this piece. But, my new studio rule is to not obsess over whatever I'm working on so I finished it even though I wasn't really wild about it.

Bead Journal Project - July

2010-07-16T18:42:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away (actually it was when I was in college) I had a fuchsia plant in my apartment that was these exact colors. It was such a beautiful plant. I think it's time to get another one.

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

2010-07-14T09:11:00.002-06:00

I wanted to post last week while everything was fresh in my mind but it was just crazy busy so I didn't get the chance.

As mentioned previously, I volunteered to do Artist Training for the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market this year. These workshops were specifically for artists selling at the Market for the 1st time and sessions included pricing, "Telling Your Story" where we worked with the artists to learn about their process, inspiration, etc. so we could craft an artist statement for them, and booth display techniques. It was such an amazing experience that I immediately came home and signed up for 2011.

Two of the artists that I worked with, Harkhuben and Meghiben, are textile artists from Kala Raksha, a trust comprised of artisans, community members, and experts in art, design, rural management, and museums. The trust's goal is the preservation of traditional arts and income generation from contemporary work and they work with nearly 1,000 embroidery artisans from 7 ethnic communities. Kala Raksha's development program activities include income generation, capacity building by conducting design workshops and training local people, the Kala Raksha Textile Museum, functional literacy and awareness workshops, preventative health care and education workshops, self-help savings groups (micro credit) in 6 villages, earthquake rehabilitation, and the Design School for Artisans.

Harkhuben Bhojraj Rabari grew up in a family of camel herders and learned embroidery from her mother in 1962 when, at the age of 15, she began working on her wedding dowry. Her award-winning work in beadwork, applique, and embroidery has enabled her to become a teacher and product designer for the Kala Raksha Trust.

Meghiben Rupa Meriya is an extremely talented applique embroidery artisan who stitches complex narratives depicting women's lives in Kutch.

I could easily have spent an entire day with each of these women learning more about their work and their lives.

Friday morning was spent lending a hand wherever needed as the artists unpacked their work and setup their booths in preparation for the Friday night Opening Reception. I braved the crowds on Saturday to see the artwork and to check in with the artists that I had worked with during the week. The crowd was enthusiastic, the artists were smiling, and the sales were brisk. When the preliminary numbers were announced Monday morning, the news was good... Artist sales increased 7% over 2009 totaling a little over $2M and attendance increased from 23,400 to 24, 818.

Orchid

2010-07-05T21:00:00.000-06:00

I finished "Orchid" today before I headed off to Santa Fe Prep for the final training session for the volunteers who are going to be working at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market this week. The level of commitment and excitement among the volunteers is really inspiring. Some of these people have been working the Market since it's 1st year. It's so nice to be around people who believe what they're doing can make a difference.

One of the artists, Ousmane Macina, was there to help with the training. Ousmane is a member of the Fulani tribe of Mali and a jeweler working in gold, silver, pearls, and semi-precious stones. His work is incredible.

Chamisa

2010-07-01T23:00:00.001-06:00

This is just a quickie needleweaving while I'm working out some issues with 2 other needleweavings I'm getting ready to start. I've never been a big fan of yellow but I think it works okay here.

Caribbean Nights

2010-06-29T16:34:00.005-06:00

What I'm Reading

2010-06-27T06:00:00.002-06:00

"Every summer, thousands gather from around the world in the blistering heat of Nevada's Black Rock Desert for the seven-day celebration of art, community, and fire known as Burning Man. Culminating in the spectacular incineration of a wooden effigy, this festival is grand-scale theater for self-expression, personal transformation, eclectic spirituality, communal bonding, and cultural renewal. In this engrossing ethnography of the Burning Man phenomenon, Lee Gilmore explores why "burners" come in vast numbers to transform a temporary gathering of strangers into an enduring community. Accompanied by a DVD, which provides panoramic views of events, individuals, artworks, and, of course, the climactic final night, the book delves into the varieties of spirituality, ritual, and performance conducted within the festival space."

Summer Storm

2010-06-26T23:30:00.012-06:00

Watched "The Changeling" tonight while I was finishing the latest needleweaving "Summer Storm". This is the spookiest movie I've ever seen. It totally creeped me out. If you're into horror movies like "The Shining", you should definitely see "The Changeling".

"Carnivale" marathon tomorrow while I get supplies and boards ready to start a new series of needleweavings.

It's Complicated

2010-06-25T15:43:00.029-06:00

I treated myself to some new DVDs to watch while I'm working in the studio. I've watched my old favorites so many times that I can practically quote the dialog verbatim.

I have to confess, I loved "It's Complicated".

"An aged, divorced mother becomes "the other woman" in her ex-husband's life when the pair enters into an unexpected affair during an out-of-town trip. Jane (Meryl Streep) has been divorced from Jake (Alec Baldwin) for a decade. The mother of 3 grown children, she owns a successful Santa Barbara bakery/restaurant and maintains a friendly relationship with Jake, who has since been remarried to the much younger Agnes. Jane and Jake are attending their son's college graduation when they agree to an innocent meal together. Before long a simple dinner date has erupted into an all-out affair, and when architect Adam (Steve Martin) falls for Jane, he realizes he's been drawn into a most peculiar love triangle. Is love sweeter the second time around, or should Jane and Jake just be happy with what they had, and finally move on with their lives?"

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-06-24T06:00:00.003-06:00

Endless Possibilities

You could be hopeful about your plans, which may provide you with the encouragement you need to follow through with them today. Viewing your future in a positive way, you may find, can not only inspire you, but it might also motivate you to go beyond your comfort zone and take healthy risks. Perhaps today you can think about the things that tend to hold you back when you are planning for the future. It might be that you have a fear of the unknown, or are mired in negative self-talk—whatever has prevented you from seeing the path before you as anything but shimmering and successful. You may want to then picture yourself placing your negative pattern in a balloon, and with each breath you take, you cut the string of the balloon and release it into the wind. As you imagine it flying away, you might visualize a clear blue sky above you, opening up to endless possibilities.

When we consciously let go of our fears, we will bring hope, through our positive thoughts, into our lives. What tends to hold us back in life is often our own patterns and ways of thinking. If we have any doubts or concerns, they will subconsciously influence our actions, and we will not be nearly as successful as we hope to be. In understanding this, however, you will be more optimistic about your future and see that a positive outlook will bring you positive outcomes today. - Daily Om

Carlsbad

2010-06-23T16:26:00.014-06:00

Finished but definitely not one of my favorites. The focal stone is dark brown, beige, and bluish grey. Not the easiest combination of colors to work with. Maybe it'll grow on me in time.

Happy Summer Solstice!

2010-06-21T16:06:00.000-06:00

Sons of Anarchy marathon today while I'm working. Men with long hair, tattoos, in leather, on Harleys... What more could a woman ask for!

Here's my latest needleweaving "Chimayo". The color is off so the picture doesn't really do it justice. (I should really break down & read the manual that came with my camera.) The red is actually a beautiful shade of deep ruby red. And I love the silver beads. They were one of my "finds" at Beadfest Santa Fe this past March.

Volunteer training for the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market was this past Saturday on Museum Hill. While I was there, I stopped in the bookstore at the Museum of International Folk Art & let me just say that's a dangerous, dangerous place to be with credit cards. The bookstore has a great section on masks, as well as textiles. I exercised massive control & allowed myself to buy 1 book, "Tribal & Village Rugs", which I knew I could use in designing some new weaving patterns. I also joined the Museum of New Mexico Foundation.

After I left Museum Hill, I headed down to the Plaza for the Challenge New Mexico Arts & Crafts Festival. One of the 1st things I noticed was there seems to be a lot of people making beaded jewelry. I think that's a market that's reaching it's saturation point. I only saw 1 vendor who had bead embroidered collars, necklaces, earrings & bracelets so her work stood out. I did see some beautiful raku pottery & gourd masks.

Christine Kane's "Uplevel Your Life" Mastery Program started today which I'm very excited about. 2010 got off to a much slower start than I expected for a number of reasons that really couldn't have been foreseen. Now that I'm back on track, I think this program will really help me stay focused. I'm back to working in the studio on a regular schedule so that's definitely a step in the right direction. And, of course, it's entirely possible that I'm just being too hard on myself & I needed the time to adjust to a different lifestyle & living in a new place.

Addition to My Art Library

2010-06-19T18:59:00.000-06:00

"This guide to the identification of motifs, designs and patterns of the weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia is an indispensable resource on Oriental rugs and carpets.

The book is divided into 6 major regional and tribal groupings, covering Anatolian, Baluchi, Caucasian, Kurdish, Persian and Turkmen motifs. These are further subdivided into sections that give more precise attributions and motif types, and examine the derivations and uses of medallions, field repeats and borders, as well as the relationships between them. Pattern recognition has long been used to determine the origin and age of rugs, and this detailed analysis of designs and their component elements provides a vital key to accurate attribution.

Lavishly illustrated throughout, the book has become an invaluable aid to identifying the enormous variety of tribal and village rug motifs."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-06-18T20:47:00.000-06:00

Useful Transformation
Make Change Work For You

At the root of all growth, we find change. Allow it to work for you not against.

”Transformation is a universal constant that affects our lives from the moment we are born until we leave earthly existence behind. At the root of all growth, we find change. Occasionally, change and the circumstances leading up to it are a source of extraordinary joy, but more often than not they provoke feelings of discomfort, fear, or pain. Though many changes are unavoidable, we should not believe that we are subject to the whims of an unpredictable universe. It is our response to those circumstances that will dictate the nature of our experiences. At the heart of every transformation, no matter how chaotic, there is substance. When we no longer resist change and instead regard it as an opportunity to grow, we find that we are far from helpless in the face of it.

Our role as masters of our own destinies is cemented when we choose to make change work in our favor. Yet before we can truly internalize this power, we must accept that we cannot hide from the changes taking place all around us. Existence as we know it will come to an end at one or more points in our lives, making way for some new and perhaps unexpected mode of being. This transformation will take place whether or not we want it to, and so it is up to us to decide whether we will open our eyes to the blessings hidden amidst disorder or close ourselves off from opportunities hiding behind obstacles.

To make change work for you, look constructively at your situation and ask yourself how you can benefit from the transformation that has taken place. As threatening as change can seem, it is often a sign that a new era of your life has begun. If you reevaluate your plans and goals in the days or weeks following a major change, you will discover that you can adapt your ambition to the circumstances before you and even capitalize on these changes. Optimism, enthusiasm, and flexibility will aid you greatly here, as there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on what might have been. Change can hurt in the short term but, if you are willing to embrace it proactively, its lasting impact will nearly always be physically, spiritually, and intellectually transformative.” - Daily Om

Spring Cleaning

2010-06-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

Look at that nice clean workspace! Daily intention tapped to the table where I can see it every day... Season 1 of "Mad Men" on the DVD player to keep me company while I work... beads & embroidery threads laid out for a new needleweaving. Life is good!

Sage

2010-06-15T23:00:00.001-06:00

Taking Things to a Whole New Level

2010-06-14T08:00:00.017-06:00

Christine Kane's "Uplevel Your Life" Mastery Program starts today. Originally the program was scheduled to start on June 21st but Christine gifted us with a bonus week. I've heard so many fabulous things about her programs that I can't wait to get started.

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-06-14T06:00:00.002-06:00

Knowing is the Key
Getting What You Want

The first step to getting what you want in life is knowing what you want.

"The first step to getting what you want in life is knowing what you want. This may sound obvious, but a surprising number of us are going through life without really coming to terms with the truth of what we want. There are many reasons for this, and they range from parental influences that curb our imaginations to external factors that curb our ability to take action. We may feel that getting too caught up in exploring our deepest desires is wasted energy when it seems we want things beyond our grasp. This is a very practical attitude and has its benefits, but it can be safely balanced with a more imaginative and unlimited approach to the question of what we want.

Perhaps you are 40 years old and find within yourself a desire to be a ballet dancer. You see the impracticality and seeming impossibility of this idea, so you reject it without exploring it. But perhaps you should allow yourself to feel this desire and perhaps even take a dance class. Allowing yourself to participate in ballet in small ways may provide inspiration that leads you in a new direction in life. And time spent doing what you want to do is never wasted because it generates energy that can fuel the rest of your life.

You can begin to uncover and discover what you want by doing a simple, timed writing exercise. Set your timer for 15 minutes and write without stopping, starting every sentence with the words “I want.” Writing without stopping for a set period of time enables your inner voice to override your inner censor and helps to unearth buried dreams. It also creates a feeling of relief in the mind, heart, and body. This exercise can also be practiced orally, alone or in the company of a friend. You might try doing this exercise every morning for a week, looking back at the end of the week to see what has come up. Sometimes the simple act of expressing a want actually releases it, while other yearnings retain their energy, asking us to pay attention. When we pay attention to what we want, we are that much closer to getting it." - Daily Om

What I'm Reading

2010-06-13T21:44:00.000-06:00

“They were told as little as possible.

Their orders were to go to Santa Fe, NM and report for work at a classified Manhattan Project site, a location so covert it was known to them only by the mysterious address: 109 East Palace. There, behind a wrought-iron gate and narrow passageway just off the touristy old plaza, they were greeted by Dorothy McKibbin, an attractive widow who was the least likely person imaginable to run a front for a clandestine defense laboratory. They stepped across her threshold into a parallel universe--the desert hideaway where Robert Oppenheimer and a team of world-famous scientists raced to build the first atomic bomb before

Germany

and bring World War II to an end.

Brilliant, handsome, extraordinarily charismatic, Oppenheimer based his unprecedented scientific enterprise in the high reaches of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, hoping that the land of enchantment would conceal and inspire their bold mission. Oppenheimer was as arrogant as he was inexperienced, and few believed the 38-year-old theoretical physicist would succeed.

Jennet Conant captures all the exhilaration and drama of those perilous twenty-seven months at Los Alamos, a secret city cut off from the rest of society, ringed by barbed wire, where Oppenheimer and his young recruits lived as virtual prisoners of the

U.S.

government. With her dry humor and eye for detail, Conant chronicles the chaotic beginnings of Oppenheimer's by-the-seat-of-his-pants operation, where freshly minted secretaries and worldly scientists had to contend with living conditions straight out of pioneer days. Despite all the obstacles, Oppie managed to forge a vibrant community at Los Alamos through the sheer force of his personality. Dorothy, who fell for him at first sight, devoted herself to taking care of him and his crew and supported him through the terrifying preparations for the test explosion at Trinity and the harrowing aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Less than a decade later, Oppenheimer became the focus of suspicion during the McCarthy witch hunts. When he and James B. Conant, one of the top administrators of the Manhattan Project (and the author's grandfather), led the campaign against the hydrogen bomb, Oppenheimer's past left-wing sympathies were used against him, and he was found to be a security risk and stripped of his clearance. Though Dorothy tried to help clear his name, she saw the man she loved disgraced.

In this riveting and deeply moving account, drawing on a wealth of research and interviews with close family and colleagues, Jennet Conant reveals an exceptionally gifted and enigmatic man who served his country at tremendous personal cost and whose singular achievement, and subsequent undoing, is at the root of our present nuclear predicament.”

Bead Journal Project - June

2010-06-10T13:19:00.000-06:00

Summer arrived early in Santa Fe this year & it's been in the 90s the past couple of weeks. The city is earth tones enclosing oases of green where you least expect it... pockets of shade where you can sit with a lemonade & watch the world go by.

What I'm Reading

2010-06-06T21:35:00.002-06:00

"On a hot June morning in 1975, a desperate shoot-out between FBI agents and Native Americans near Wounded Knee, South Dakota, left an Indian and two federal agents dead. Four members of AIM, the American Indian Movement, were indicted on murder charges, and one, Leonard Peltier, was convicted and is now serving consecutive life sentences in a federal penitentiary.

Behind this violent chain of events lie issues of great complexity and profound historical resonance, brilliantly explicated by Peter Matthiessen in this controversial book. In a comprehensive history of the desperate Indian efforts to maintain their traditions, Matthiessen reveals the Lakota tribe's long struggle with the U.S. government, from Red Cloud's War and Little Big Horn in the nineteenth century to the shameful discrimination that led to the new Indian wars of the 1970s."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-06-02T21:42:00.000-06:00

Unveiling the Soul's Vision
Medicine Wheels

Medicine wheels illustrate the journey of all, encompassing cycles of life, death, and that which lies beyond.
Though stone structures have been a dominant element of human history, few have done as much to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual realms as the Native American medicine wheel. Wholly non-intrusive, these simple configurations of stone blend into their environments, becoming objects of ritual, meditative, and ceremonial importance to those who perceive their deeper meaning. An outer ring is linked to the center of the medicine wheel by spokes that echo the four sacred directions (north, south, east, and west) and their corresponding colors (white, red, yellow, and black).

Creating our own medicine wheel can be just as profound an experience as visiting the site of an ancient wheel, for the mere presence of it changes our relationship to the universe, opening us to new depths of insight. No matter what the configuration, the wheel represents the circular path of being. It illustrates the journey of all Mother Nature's children, encompassing cycles of life, death, and that which lies beyond. When we walk the outer edges of a medicine wheel, sleep in its spokes, or lay our hands upon the center cairn, our inner vision is enhanced. We recognize ourselves as a vital part of a larger whole—a product of the universe as well as a force acting upon it. Peering through the lens of the medicine wheel, the harmony that unites disparate elements of the universe reveals itself to us. Each living entity will visit every spoke of the wheel in its lifetime, honoring the sacred directions and colors. However different we may be, there is no reason we cannot fi! nd peaceful concordance in our similarities.

Whether your goal is to internalize the wisdom of the self, nature, society, or soul, the transformative energy of the medicine wheel will help you attune yourself to the interconnectivity of all reality. It can consequently serve as a powerful communication tool for groups in need of channels of understanding, for the universality of the wheel's significance facilitates bonding without asking disparate peoples to sacrifice their individuality. Your energy and that of those who accompany you will mingle with the universal flow at the focal point of the medicine wheel, reminding you that all beings are equal, and all are fated to travel round the great loop of existence until the end of time. - Daily Om

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-06-01T21:39:00.002-06:00

As You Believe
Create Completeness

We can manifest what we want through affirmations as if we have already obtained what we want.
The creative power of the universe is infinite. A single molecule's destiny is as important as the consequences of the largest supernova. Human potential is subject to this power, but because we are sentient beings, each of us is permitted to choose whether we will struggle against it or work in tandem with it. When we give voice to our desires through focused meditation or solicit the help of spirit guides, we draw upon the universe's creative power to achieve certain ends. However, because our words are not all the universe hears, the response we receive may surprise us. The discourse we establish through our appeals is a blend of speech, thought, intention, and subconscious reflection. When we ask the universe for something, the unspoken message is that what we want does not exist, and the universe accepts this as truth. Conversely, we manifest completeness through affirmations in which we declare our desires as if we have already obtained them.

When we affirm that we are fulfilled instead of articulating deficiencies, we are asserting that contentment is a natural and necessary element of human existence. Our essence is an expression of fulfillment—the universe wants to satisfy our needs and desires. When we describe our realities in positive terms, we are not denying the challenges inherent in existence. We choose not to focus on lack or dissatisfaction because we understand that the energy of our thoughts will determine the response we receive to our entreaties. Ask yourself how you would feel if your wishes were granted, and then allow yourself to internalize that emotional state. Try to create a picture of satisfaction so vivid that its reality is unquestionable and tell the universe that your vision is fact. At the close of your appeal, express your gratitude, as it is your acknowledgment of the truth of your fulfillment that will set the creative power of the universe into motion.

Working in perfect unison with the creative power of the universe will empower you to manifest spiritual realities in your material existence. As you affirm the beauty, peace, and goodness that already exist within in your life, your capacity to sense and understand their influence will become increasingly sophisticated. To meet your needs and achieve your desires, you need then only banish all thoughts of emptiness so that the energy of completeness can attract fullness into your being. - Daily Om

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-05-20T20:08:00.001-06:00

Why Not Now?
Waiting for Someday

If today is the day you will take your destiny into your hands, you will soon discover that you hold the keys of fate.

The time we are blessed with is limited and tends to be used up all too quickly. How we utilize that time is consequently one of the most important decisions we make. Yet it is far too easy to put off until tomorrow what we are dreaming of today. The hectic pace of modern existence affords us an easy out; we shelve our aspirations so we can cope more effectively with the challenges of the present, ostensibly to have more time and leisure to realize our purpose in the future. Or we tell ourselves that we will chase our dreams someday once we have accomplished other lesser goals. In truth, it is our fear that keeps us from seeking fulfillment in the here and now—because we view failure as a possibility, our reasons for delaying our inevitable success seem sound and rational. If we ask ourselves what we are really waiting for, however, we discover that there is no truly compelling reason why we should put off the pursuit of the dreams that sustain us.

When regarded as a question, "Why not now?" drains us of our power to realize our ambitions. We are so concerned with the notion that we are somehow undeserving of happiness that we cannot see that there is much we can do in the present to begin courting it. Yet when we look decisively at our existence and state, "Why not now, indeed!" we are empowered to begin changing our lives this very moment. We procrastinate for many reasons, from a perceived lack of time to a legitimate lack of self-belief, but the truth of the matter is that there is no time like the present and no time but the present. Whatever we aim to accomplish, we will achieve it more quickly and with a greater degree of efficiency when we seize the day and make the most of the resources we have at our disposal presently.

All the joy, passion, and contentment you can envision can be yours right now, rather than in some far-flung point in time. You need only remind yourself that there is nothing standing between you and fulfillment. If you decide that today is the day you will take your destiny into your hands, you will soon discover that you hold the keys of fate. - Daily Om

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-05-17T12:52:00.001-06:00

Letting Life Unfold
Present in the Progression

Try to allow your life to unfold like a flower rather than worrying and making predictions which cause stress.

Our lives are guided by natural rhythms that are particular to each of us and cannot be altered by force of will alone. Life itself is a journey made up of processes and events that manifest before us only to be swept away when time marches on. Whether we envision ourselves creating a career, building a family, or developing the self, we instinctively know when the time has come for us to realize our dreams because all that is involved comes together harmoniously. When the time is right, the passage of destiny cannot be blocked. Yet as desperate as we are to touch these beautiful futures we have imagined, we cannot grow if we are not fully present in the evolutionary experience. The present can be challenging, uncomfortable, and tedious, but life unfolds as it will, and the universe will wait patiently as we make our way into the unknown.

The fate that awaits us is not dependent on our pace, which was preordained before we ever appeared in human guise. Therefore there is no reason to rush through life to reach those pinnacles of development associated with the paths we have chosen. Enjoying and fully experiencing the journey of life is as important as achieving goals and reaching milestones. There are lessons we can learn during those moments that seem immaterial or insignificant that we cannot learn at any other time. Appreciating these takes patience, however, because human beings tend to focus on the fulfillment of expectations rather than the simple joys of being.

Like many people, you have no doubt longed for a device that would give you the power to fast forward through certain periods of your existence. Yet haste is by its very nature vastly more stressful than serene fortitude. When you feel yourself growing impatient because the pace of your development is deceptively slow, remember that everything that will occur in your life will occur in its own time. Quelling your urge to rush will enable you to witness yourself learning, changing, and becoming stronger. There is so much to see and do in between the events and processes that we deem definitive. If you are patient enough to take pleasure in your existence's unfolding, the journey from one pinnacle to the next will seem to take no time at all. - Daily Om

What I'm Reading

2010-05-16T17:02:00.003-06:00

"Throughout the development of the American West, prostitution grew and flourished within the mining camps, small towns, and cities of the nineteenth-century Rocky Mountains. Whether escaping a bad home life, lured by false advertising, or seeking to subsidize their income, thousands of women chose or were forced to enter an industry where they faced segregation and persecution, fines and jailing, and battled the hazards of disease, drug addiction, physical abuse, pregnancy, and abortion. They dreamed of escape through marriage or retirement, but more often found relief only in death. An integral part of western history, the stories of these women continue to fascinate readers and captivate the minds of historians today. Expanding on the research she did for Brothels, Bordellos, and Bad Girls (UNM Press), historian Jan MacKell moves beyond the mining towns of Colorado to explore the history of prostitution in the Rocky Mountain states of Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Each state had its share of working girls and madams like Big Nose Kate or Calamity Jane who remain celebrities in the annals of history, but MacKell also includes the stories of lesser-known women whose role in this illicit trade nonetheless shaped our understanding of the American West."

Bead Journal Project - May

2010-05-15T18:05:00.002-06:00

Spring in Santa Fe... glimpses of adobe walls seen through the leaves of the trees.

What I'm Reading

2010-05-09T10:00:00.000-06:00

"Set in the motels, highways & restaurants of New Mexico, Alpert's 1st novel is an elegant & witty, if modest, peek into the lives of a handful of characters in the American Southwest. Successfully sidestepping the cliches of the road novel, Alpert introduces her cast of fully dimensional characters with strong, selective strokes. At 26, Marilee Levitay is crossing the desert in her Dodge Dart to marry her high-school sweetheart, Larry. In the shadows of both the White Sands Missile Range & her own anxieties about life, Marilee meets a hitchhiking dwarf named Enoch. The unfolding of their uncannily erotic relationship is the heart of the novel, but Alpert gracefully weaves in the destinies of her secondary characters -- an insurance salesman in hiding, a buck-toothed checkout girl, a landlady tamale chef."

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

2010-05-06T23:22:00.004-06:00

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, July 9 - 11, is the largest international folk art market in the world. This year, 170 artists from 50 countries will be exhibiting.

Once again this year, they are asking for sponsors for first-time artists to the Market. Their goal is to be able to provide direct financial support for 28 artists who would not be able to attend the Market otherwise. Details of the sponsorship program are here.

What I'm Reading

2010-05-05T22:36:00.000-06:00

"Sex, sin & saloons come together in Sherry Monahan's deliciously wicked look at the wild & wonderful days of the Old West.

Largely told through the memoirs & eyewitness accounts of the men & women who lived it, The Wicked West is an uproarious account of life in the "bad old days." Monahan treats readers to a trip into the past they won't soon forget -- a bygone world where drinking, smoking, gambling, drugs & prostitution were the order of the day, every day & on Sunday's, too!

In this riotous ride through the saloons & bordellos of the frontier, Monahan introduces us not to an array of familiar Western figures, but to real saloon keepers, miners, judges & red-light ladies, whose stories, follies & foibles are told as only those who lived "the wicked life" can tell them.

The men & women who made the West lived hard & played even harder. But they lived life to its fullest & for all it was worth. In real life the frontier lived up to its reputation for high adventure, danger & forbidden pleasures. This astonishing look at Western legend reveals a world where anything could happen & usually did."

I'll be the 1st to admit that my addiction to books can be a little out of control sometimes. Of course, I guess there are worse addictions to have. One of my goals this year is to balance my fiction & non-fiction reading so I've been focusing on books about the history & culture of the Southwest. When Collected Works didn't have a book I was looking for they suggested I try the bookstore at the New Mexico History Museum. Score!

Morning Meditation

2010-05-04T06:00:00.002-06:00

Organization is a Wonderful Thing

2010-05-03T22:00:00.003-06:00

Finally getting back into the studio on a regular basis. Look at that nice, neat workspace! Yep, that lasted about 30 seconds. I'll spare you pictures of the storage bins scattered all over the floor as I mounted a major scavenger hunt for some beads that I wanted to use. Found them but they didn't really work. I hate when that happens.

What I'm Reading

2010-05-02T20:19:00.000-06:00

"Tito is in his early twenties. Born in Cuba, he speaks fluent Russian, lives in one room in a NoLita warehouse, and does delicate jobs involving information transfer.

Hollis Henry is an investigative journalist, on assignment from a magazine called Node. Node doesn't exist yet, which is fine; she's used to that. But it seems to be actively blocking the kind of buzz that magazines normally cultivate before they start up. Really actively blocking it. It's odd, even a little scary, if Hollis lets herself think about it much. Which she doesn't; she can't afford to.

Milgrim is a junkie. A high-end junkie, hooked on prescription antianxiety drugs. Milgrim figures he wouldn't survive twenty-four hours if Brown, the mystery man who saved him from a misunderstanding with his dealer, ever stopped supplying those little bubble packs. What exactly Brown is up to Milgrim can't say, but it seems to be military in nature. At least, Milgrim's very nuanced Russian would seem to be a big part of it, as would breaking into locked rooms.

Bobby Chombo is a "producer," and an enigma. In his day job, Bobby is a troubleshooter for manufacturers of military navigation equipment. He refuses to sleep in the same place twice. He meets no one. Hollis Henry has been told to find him."

A Brief Glimpse of Spring...

2010-05-01T20:25:00.001-06:00

... before the clouds rolled back in, the winds picked up & the temperature dropped enough for snow flurries.

Bead Journal Project - April

2010-04-30T18:09:00.004-06:00

My master plan for the 2010 Bead Journal Project was to match each month's needleweaving to the seasons here in Santa Fe.

April was a bit of an odd month. Winter one moment with grey skies & snow falling then the sun shining & birds singing 15 minutes later. But, in spite of the fact that winter doesn't really seem to want to let go this year, the trees are budding, the flowers are starting to bloom & the birds are building their nests.

What I'm Reading

2010-04-25T19:38:00.000-06:00

"Cayce Pollard is a new kind of prophet - a world renowned "coolhunter" who predicts the hottest trends. While in London to evaluate the redesign of a famous corporate logo, she's offered a different assignment: find the creator of the obscure, enigmatic video clips being uploaded on the Internet - footage that is generating massive underground buzz worldwide."

What I'm Reading

2010-04-18T18:10:00.002-06:00

"On March 1943, Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin took a position that catapulted her into the center of the Manhattan Project. Her office at 109 East Palace Avenue in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the entry point for all scientists, technicians, & their families who came to Los Alamos, an isolated mesa in northcentral New Mexico, to build a "gadget" that would change the course of World War II. They also built a community where people attempted to lead ordinary lives under extraordiary circumstances. Dorothy, a rare combination of gentility & fire, was a powerful civilizing influence for those individuals. She was their sole contact with the world beyond "the Hill", a world that did not know of their existence."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-04-12T20:47:00.002-06:00

Where the Soul Is
Finding the Place You Belong

Moving locations when you feel strongly to do so is a way of bringing your spiritual & earthly energies together.
"There will likely be times in your life when your soul evolves more quickly than your circumstances. Your subconscious mind may be ready to move forward long before you recognize that you are destined to embrace a new way of life. Your soul intuitively understands that changing habitats can be a vital part of the growth process & that there may be one part of you that is eager to move to another home, another state, or another plane of existence. But the ties that bind you to your current mode of being can make moving into this next stage of your life more challenging than it has to be. If you find it difficult to move on, consider that just as people in your life may come & go, your role in others’ lives may also be temporary. Many of the conditions that at first seemed favorable served you for a short time. When you are ready to match your situation to your soul, you will find that you feel a new sense of harmony & increasingly connected to the ebb & flow of the universe.

Moving on can be defined in numerous ways. Your forward momentum may take you from your current locale to a place you instinctively know will be more nurturing, comfortable & spiritually enriching. Once you arrive, your misgivings will vanish & you will know that you have found a sanctuary. Similarly, subtle changes in your values, goals, or emotional needs can motivate you to distance yourself from one group of people in order to reassociate yourself with individuals that are better able to support you. For example, this could mean moving away from your birth family in order to find your energetic or spiritual family. The route you need to travel may not always be clear; you may feel inspired to change yet be unsure as to why or how. Clarity may come in the form of a question if you are willing to seriously ask yourself where your soul is trying to take you.

In a way, moving from one point to another when you feel strongly driven to do so is a way of bringing your spiritual & earthly energies together. It is a two-step process that involves not only letting go but also reconnecting. You will know you have found your destination, physical or otherwise, when you feel in your heart that you have been reborn into a life that is just the right shape, size & composition." - Daily Om

What I'm Reading

2010-04-11T17:35:00.001-06:00

"In a dusty, remote community of secretly constructed buildings & awesome possibility, the world's most brilliant minds have come together. Their mission: to split an atom & end a war. But among those who have come to Robert Oppenheimer's "enchanted campus" of foreign-born scientists, baffled guards, & restless wives is a simple man, an unraveler of human secrets—a man in search of a killer.

It is the spring of 1945 & Michael Connolly has been sent to Los Alamos to investigate the murder of a security officer on the Manhattan Project. But amid the glimmering cocktail parties & the staggering genius, Connolly will find more than he bargained for. Sleeping in a dead man's bed & making love to another man's wife, Connolly has entered the moral no-man's-land of Los Alamos. For in this place of discovery & secrecy, hope & horror, Connolly is plunged into a shadowy war with a killer—as the world is about to be changed forever."

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-04-01T11:09:00.001-06:00

Compelled to Create
Embracing Your Muse

Find your muse today and embrace your creativity and imagination, where all things are possible.
Inspiration is an intangible yet inseparable part of the creative process. Nearly all creative possibilities are related to the muses that inspire us. The ancient Greeks believed that all creation, whether artistic or scientific in nature, was motivated by goddesses who served as the literal embodiment of inspiration. These were the Muses葉he givers of the creative spark. We still rely on muses to drive the creative process, though ours may take a diverse range of forms. People we meet, intriguing ideas, movies, books, nature, & cultural ideals all have the potential to awaken our imaginative minds. When we are touched by our muses, we understand viscerally that we are capable of producing our own unique kind of greatness.

Many people move through life unaware of the presence of their muse. This lack of awareness can be compounded by the fact that we may have one muse that remains with us throughout our lives, multiple muses that inspire us concurrently, several muses that come and go as necessary, or a single muse that touches us briefly at specific moments. You will know that you have found your muse when you encounter a force that makes you feel courageous enough to broaden the range of your creativity. The presence of this force will erase your self-doubt & motivate you to give your thoughts & feelings form. Should your muse continue to elude you, however, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of falling under its inspired influence. If you surround yourself with people who support you, keep a pen & paper handy, immerse yourself in culture, & brainstorm frequently, you will soon reconnect with your muse.

Once you have identified your muse, embrace it by giving yourself over to the creative inspiration it provides. No matter what you are moved to create, you will find that neither fear nor criticism can penetrate the wonderful bliss that goes hand in hand with the act of taking an idea & turning it into something the whole world can enjoy. - Daily Om

Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om

2010-03-30T13:44:00.001-06:00

Nary A Backward Glance

"You may be focused on the specific details of your future today as well as all you hope to become in this life. While visualizing the personality traits you wish to integrate into your being or the career success you desire, you’ll likely discover that many of your obligations are indirectly related to your future. This knowledge can aid you as you are called upon to assign priorities to your day’s duties. As you assess your long-range plans & then consider your short-term responsibilities, you can devote more time to those activities that will have an impact on your ability to fulfill your goals. Today may be the day that you truly commit to your ambitions & make their realization an important part of your daily routine.

As you focus on the future, you empower yourself to actively & consciously shape your own destiny by making everyday choices that will help you realize your ambitions. Though it is vital that we learn from past events, fixing our focus on what has been rather than what will be blinds us to the opportunities & wealth of wonders that wait for us in the future. When you concentrate wholeheartedly on what you wish to achieve, you express your intentions to the universe & increase your chances of attracting the support you need. With your objectives clear in your mind, fears born of incidents in your personal history will have no authority to hold you back. The forward-facing focus with which you view life today will help you craft the life of your dreams." - Daily Om

What I'm Reading

2010-03-28T21:48:00.003-06:00

"She was “the most peculiar common denominator that society, literature, art & radical revolutionaries ever found in New York & Europe.” So claimed a Chicago newspaper reporter in the 1920s of Mabel Dodge Luhan, who attracted leading literary & intellectual figures to her circle for over 4 decades. Not only was she mistress of a grand salon, an American Madame de Stael, she was also a leading symbol of the New Woman: sexually emancipated, self-determining, & in control of her destiny. In many ways, her life is the story of America’s emergence from the Victorian age.

Lois Rudnick has written a unique & definitive biography that examines all aspects of Mabel Dodge Luhan’s real & imagined lives, drawing on fictional portraits of Mabel, including those by D. H. Lawrence, Carl Van Vechten, & Gertrude Stein, as well as on Mabel’s own voluminous memoirs, letters, & fiction. Rudnick not only assesses Mabel as muse to men of genius but also considers her seriously as a writer, activist, & spirit of the age.

This biography will appeal not just to cultural historians but to any woman who has loved & lived with men who are artists & rebels. Both as a liberated woman & as a legend, Mabel Dodge Luhan embodies the cultural forces that shaped modern America."

Nostalgia, Needleweaving & Dreaming

2010-03-27T22:09:00.002-06:00

It was a Woody Allen marathon today while I was working in the studio. All of my favorites... Play It Again Sam, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah & Her Sisters, New York Stories, & Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

The focal stone in this needleweaving is 1 of my "finds" from Bead Fest Santa Fe last week. It's some type of turquoise that looks as though it's been dyed & it's really a beautiful stone. I'll try to take a better picture once the piece is finished. Unfortunately, the colors are really "washing out" in this picture. So far, this is the 1st needleweaving that I've been happy with in months. All of the others that I started ended up in the trash. This means that I'm really behind in the Bead Journal Project.

I also spent far too much time sorting through the beads that arrived yesterday & daydreaming with the latest Fire Mountain catalog.

The days are getting warmer here in Santa Fe finally & I'm really looking forward to being able to open the doors to the balcony & the windows. I'm also really looking forward to going shopping for some plants for the apartment.

Gotta Love the Fedex Guy

2010-03-26T20:47:00.003-06:00

How can you not love a guy who shows up at your door 1st thing in the morning with a big box of beads?

I know, I know. I just went to Bead Fest Santa Fe last week but there were a number of items on my shopping list that I couldn't find & some of the things I found were just too expensive at the show. At the end of the day, it's really hard to beat the prices & selection at Fire Mountain. I've been looking for months for interesting bronze & brass findings / charms to finish off the ends of some of the needleweavings I've been working on. Absolutely no luck at the bead show but I stumbled across them in the clearance section at Fire Mountain. They also had the painted wooden beads that I've been looking for.

Now if I can just get my work table cleared off again I can get back to weaving.