Are You Alone?

July 28, 2009 Karen 6 Comments

This title could indicate a narrative about many different things. Some of these could be quite philosophical while others might be the opposite. My first tendency when reading the title is to burst into song. If you’re past 40 or if you’re a musician, you probably remember “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, a melody I still hum and have played on the piano too many times to count. This song can be spiritual and the blog title might also lead your thoughts to that arena. Of course, there’s the seamier side of hearing a husky voice on the opposite end of the phone asking, “are you alone”, but I’ll leave readers to ponder that one.

Last night while completing the two pieces shown here, I had a strong feeling that I wasn’t alone. The dogs and cat were outside, my husband had gone to bed, yet something wasn’t quite right. We live in a timber frame house and although it is 10 years old, there’s still some creaking and groaning as the timbers continue to split and shift. Those sounds can create an eerie atmosphere late a night; Yet, the sounds were not the whole of the feeling. Finally, I realized I WASN’T ALONE. I checked the kitchen; “sigh”. I checked the den; “sigh”. I checked the other rooms, but no intruder appeared. (I wonder what I thought I was going to do if one DID appear) Thinking I better get to bed before any more illusions crept into my thoughts, I glanced to the side of the work area and met the friend below. Truly - - - I Was NOT Alone.

Creativity, Metal Work, Pendants, Wire Work

Too Many Pea Pods

July 23, 2009 Karen

For the past several days, I’ve challenged myself to see how many different ways I might embellish the copper pea pods I’ve made before. It seemed like a harmless activity. Since I have such a dislike of making something more than once, I thought I’d work on that problem with the pea pods. When training to teach piano pedagogy, one of my instructors always said “attack your weakness”. Ok, I attacked my weakness and worked on becoming more willing to copy my own work. I just kept telling myself that I was using creative elaboration to change the pods slightly. After four pods, I declared that the challenge was complete and I should move on to another weakness (there are plenty to attack). But what am I going to do with all these pea pods?

Although it may be difficult to tell from these small photos, all four pea pods in the top two pictures are slightly different. The split pea pod in the last picture resulted when I rewarded myself for sticking to this challenge and took the time to make something different.

By the way, I don’t even like peas!

Creativity, Necklaces, Philosophy

Six Thinking Hats

July 23, 2009 Karen

One of my favorite techniques about thinking is Six Thinking Hats by Edward DeBono. Dr. DeBono provided all of us with a plethora of books and materials from which to draw ideas for promoting various type of thinking. I was able to glean much from his work that I utilized both in workshop for teachers and articles for publications.

Six Thinking Hats is simple and straightforward. Each color hat represents a specific way of thinking: White is for factual thinking; Black is more thinking about drawbacks or things that might go wrong; Yellow is for thinking about positive results and possibilities; Red is for thinking with emotion; Green is for creative thinking; and Blue is for guiding or organizing the other ways of thinking. Children I’ve worked with as young as Kindergarten have been able to understand and utilize the hats. It has been my experience that although the type of thinking we use most readily changes according to our situation or environment, most of us do have one type of thinking that is our style. I am a natural black hat thinker. It is easier for me to tell all the things that could go wrong with a design or plan than it is for me to see all the possibilities. Black hat thinking isn’t bad. I’ve probably prevented many a disaster in my life by having critical thoughts at the forefront. (I probably saved my children from excessive trips to the emergency room by seeing the negative results of their antics before they acted.) Yet, it can be a real downer. I wonder how many wonderful opportunities I’ve missed because I was squelched through critical thinking. If I don’t keep my natural Black Hat thinking under wraps, part of the time it can be difficult for those around me and can certainly hold back my design work.

For several years, I’ve tried to be conscious of practicing other types of thinking. White Hat = no problem, I can give you the factual details; Red Hat = no problem, crying, yelling and caring are all in my repertoire; Green Hat = I work on creative thinking all the time; Blue Hat = remembering to organize thinking works as I try to use the other colors or gently ask a complaining person if they can come up with any positives about their situation; Yellow Hat = hmmm . . . I think this would be easier if I didn’t listen to the news reports.

It seems to me that I might apply the Six Thinking Hats in the critic of creative work. It’s not necessary to use all the hats each time we apply the technique. Simply select those that are needed. There are two pictures below, but for an example, take a look at the turquoise and pearl necklace that’s on it’s way to a customer in Maine. White Hat thinking allows me to write on the tag attached to the piece that it is made of turquoise and pearls and that the lobster clasp is sterling silver. Wearing my Red Hat, I can tell you that I didn’t feel very excited about this piece when the customer requested it because it was quite simple. Yellow Hat thinking reminds me that I made this pretty quickly with a minimum of steps and was able to mix together some pearls remaining from another project. It’s also a plus that this customer purchases a good deal of turquoise and pearls and I know I can make her happy with this piece. I also feel I should be grateful that I don’t have to think very hard to complete this piece. Black Hat thinking, however, tells me that I’m not learning much from making this combination of beads AGAIN. If I use Blue Hat Thinking to organize those thoughts I can be left with a positive feeling as I wrap up the piece. I think the best order might be White, Black, Red and finally Yellow. It works for me and I’m thinking how good it is to sell something!

Creativity, Pendants, Wire Work

Still Rockin’

July 17, 2009 Karen 6 Comments

In the midst of all that classical music I’m listening to in an attempt to stay on task writing our annual cattle sale catalogue, I have done a bit of rockin’.

Those pictured are mostly more of Ralph’s rocks, mentioned in an earlier post. My goal is to find as many different ways as possible to wrap a cabachon. The rocks are a great way to learn and practice since they present their own set of unique problems. Challenge #1: No two are the same shape or size making it somewhat difficult to repeat a discovered wrapping. Challenge #2: The sides are not equal a given rock. Challenge #3: There is not a flat back, as in a cabachon; therefore what may work for the front doesn’t work for the back of the rock. Challenge #4: I won’t give up.

It would seem that some of these rocks do not wish to be wrapped. Proof of this lies in the wastebasket beside my workspace. Sometimes as I’m starting to feel proud of the wrap completed, the silly rock just pops right out and ends up on my lap. (This is not helpful to my ego!) Other times, the wrap is such a big mess that I take the cutters and whack it off. And then there’s that “morning after” thing. Something that looked really great about midnight is pretty tacky by morning. (Think about that one.)

As I’ve mentioned before, the literature on creative thinking tells us that creative scientists, as opposed to those who are rule bound, know when to abandon an idea and move on. I’m definitely not any good at that, but then I never claimed to be much of a scientist either. (When we started the ranch and I suggested that I could go to vet school, someone suggested that I couldn’t pass the science courses.) It takes me a good deal of time before I give up on an idea and move to another. Perhaps that’s stubbornness, but it could also be resistance to closure. I want to be sure I’ve tried every angle before throwing in the towel on an idea.

The joy of wrapping these rocks is that I have very little money invested in the adventure. Since my friend provided the rocks and I’m practicing with fairly inexpensive copper wire the wrapping in economical.

You might be wondering about the top of the rocks regarding why they have open hooks rather than closed loops. These are created to hang on simple neckwires and are interchangeable. I’ve had no trouble with them slipping off the neckwire as long as the hook bends down a good ways.

Soon I will need to stop wrapping rocks and apply these techniques to cabs, but for now I’m having a great time. Of course, I may have so many that you’ll find them dangling off my lamp shades before long, but I’m sure something better will dawn on me.

Philosophy

Time for Classical Music

July 12, 2009 Karen

It’s that time of the year again when I need to listen to classical music. The catalogue for our ranch production sale is due to the publisher in about 10 days. That means we are putting together the layout complete with pictures, footnotes, statistics, etc. Although the sale isn’t until October 24th, the preparation is currently intense as we figure out which animals are pregnant and ultrasound sex check all the embryos for catalogue identification. (If you would like to see a few videos of some animals they are on our website at www.dreamcatcherranch.net/ranch/events) Therefore, it’s time for logical thinking and classical music. Music from the European baroque period which extended approximately from 1600 to 1750 is associated with composers like J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, and many others. I think of this music as very logical-mathematical in the repetition of patterns and musical motives. That type music helps keep me in the groove of logical thinking and patterning which is what I need to put together an organized 42 page catalogue. I’ve experienced and heard others says that it often takes a while to settle into a particular task. I believe this may be because that task requires a different type of thinking from what we commonly utilize. For example, when I first get ready to organize our production catalogue, it may take me almost an hour to actually make a good start. I’m just not readily used to the type thinking this requires. Some people seem to stall in front of the computer when asked to write something longer than a short email. The words just don’t come. Perhaps this is because those folks aren’t used to initiating the type of verbal thinking required for the task. I do, however, believe there’s hope and that many of us can initiate specific types of thinking through stimuli. It may be through music, objects, pictures, locations, etc. since stimuli vary with individuals. Many designers have a specific location where they sit and are automatically engaged in creative thinking. Others begin creative problem solving as they handle beads, wire or other materials. I seem to be programmed to specific types of music. While I don’t suggest replicating the experience of Pavlov’s dog, wouldn’t it be great if we could all determine what stimulus initiates a specific type of thinking? We would certainly save a good deal of time and frustration spent as we wait to START thinking. The expression of grandson Gabriel (taking his very first dip in the swimming pool) best depicts my true feelings about needing to continue my logical thinking, as opposed to my natural creative way, until the catalogue is complete. But for now at least all I can do is turn on Bach and get back to work.

Necklaces

Native American Roots

July 11, 2009 Karen

I’m proud to have Native American roots stemming from my Great Great Grandmother who was Choctaw. She walked the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma as did so many of our ancestors. That’s basically all that I know about my heritage and, as many of us probably realize when it’s too late, I wish I’d asked more questions of my Great Grandmother.

My husband thought it was unfortunate that I did not have enough Native American blood to help me get a scholarship when we were going to college in Oklahoma. He actually made a big mistake in that regard. When we married, I was 19 and my father, who had saved for my college expenses, offered to pay for my education. My young, macho husband said “Oh, no. I will take care of everything.” When, at the age of 40, I went back to work on my third degree, a doctorate, Don asked my dad if he still had that money. Oh course it was long gone. I guess age brought financial wisdom to both my husband and my father.

The jewelry pieces pictured today remind me of my Native American heritage. I regret that two of them are not better photos, but you will get the general sense of them. The brown piece is made of bone horn beads with tiger eye, turquoise and silver. It’s pictured hanging on a garment at Dovetails of Wimberley. There is also a picture of my new cell phone fob featuring a bone eagle. The second necklace has the same eagle beads. The other beads are jasper.

Necklaces, Pendants, Philosophy, Wire Work

Timing is Everything

July 5, 2009 Karen

I’ve heard the saying in the title many times and often believe it is true. For example, as teenagers, my children knew when it was a good time to ask for something and when it would be better to wait.

Today, I wondered if my timing was just a little off. While I’m getting to the top of the “hill” that I may someday be old enough to be “over”, I’m not there yet. I have always worked diligently to know what’s in and what’s not with the young crowd. As a piano teacher, I kept up with the latest music so that my students could play what was popular as desert on top of their Bach and Mozart pieces. I even rewrote many popular songs to make them easy enough for my beginners. Now, I’m thankful that my son keeps me reasonably up-to-date on new music and artists. As for clothing, I’ve even gotten used to young men’s baggy pants that may need a hitch up while the wearer walks and midriffs exposed on young and some not so young women.

Yet, lately I’ve been thinking my open minded/up-to-date attitude may be slipping. I just didn’t realize that I could wear my pajamas to the grocery store. It seems that when I go to the grocery store on Sunday mornings, I encounter young couples in their pajamas who appear to have just crawled out of bed. The first time, I thought it was just a single occurrence, but I’ve noted it numerous times since. Some of these couples even have on their bedroom slippers. One pair of slippers was complete with cute little dog ears. Today I realized that my timing is just off. I’m going to the grocery store at the wrong time or on the wrong day. I’m much more comfortable when I go on Wednesdays, the same day that the bus from the assisted living facility brings their residents to shop. I can converse with those people and help them find their food without feeling odd. I just don’t belong with the pajama crowd.

Timing is also important when we try to sell things. Jewelry designers trying to make sales at outdoor events in this persistent heat need to realize that there’s probably nothing wrong with their work – it’s just the timing. Hopefully, cooler weather will give sales a needed boost.

Right now, copper jewelry seems to be selling well. The timing is right for it and I’m working to create new options for the use of both copper sheet metal and copper wire. Pictured below are a couple of new pieces that will probably work better for fall than summer. Although we are in the midst of our hot weather, boutiques are now clearing their pastel merchandise and preparing for the arrival of fall clothes. Now is the time for jewelry designers to be thinking fall as well.

Timing – such an important element in life. There must be some unique formula to help me get it just right. I sure wish I could figure it out before I’m any closer to the top of that hill!

Philosophy

We Can Look

July 1, 2009 Karen

Lunch with Mom is always an interesting treat. We frequent the drive thru establishments since I cannot lift her wheelchair into my car. She’s really accepting of this and just loves being able to “escape” from the home. Yesterday, while driving to the Dairy Queen, she continued to ask about this and that kind of car as they whirred by us. Eventually she said, “I don’t know why I’m so interested in cars. I’m not going to get one.” (“whew”, I thought) I told her that it was OK to look whether you were going to buy or not. “Like men?” she asked. Again suggesting that it might be OK to look, but not want one she told me she wanted one! Although my Father has been gone for almost 9 years, I quickly changed the conversation.

My conclusion from Mother’s wisdom is that it’s OK to go to all those bead shows and to peruse the websites whether I’m planning to get something or not. A plethora of ideas often pops into my head while enjoying the eye candy. I do try to keep the computer time down since it takes away from my design time, but following are the four websites that I try to keep up with:

www.magpiegemstones.com

www.jewelrylessons.com (Eni Oken)

www.beadingdaily.com

www.auntiesbeads.com

I’m pretty disciplined about the beads shows. For each, I give myself both a time limit and a budget, the two things from which I seldom veer. A list also helps unless you lose it at a vendor’s table. After my lunch with Mom, I’m feeling pretty good about going to those shows . . . after all, it’s OK to look.

Necklaces, Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Out on a Limb

June 30, 2009 Karen

Today’s photo shows another pin turned pendant from the same family as the dog shown in an earlier post. Although these pins, given to me for creation by the owner of Dovetails of Wimberley, presented considerable challenge, I’m pleased to understand how to alter a pin and will be more open minded about the pendant possibilities that other pins offer. In case you didn’t read the earlier post, the process involves making and gluing a wire finding to the back of the pin which turns it into a pendant. Thankfully, I’m no longer “out on a limb” regarding this technique.

Balance, Diversions, Philosophy

Balance

June 28, 2009 Karen 2 Comments

I was explaining to my younger friend, Dr. G, how I was trying to keep things in balance, indicating that perhaps this is more necessary as we grow older. For example, we might work at the computer until the backache sets in, then move to the jewelry making until that arthritic hand hurts, go to clean the kitchen, etc. and then start that cycle all over again. Hopefully, by the end of the day things all come together and reached closure (or nothing does!).

Today’s balance involved stopping in the middle of baking to go round up cows who for some reason wanted to stay in the shade rather than coming to the barn to receive their shots (go figure - - who’s smarter on that one?). Is it true that if you put your cookie batter in the refrigerator while you round up cows, it will actually taste better? I don’t really think so.

Design balance can also involve a little bit of this and that. I used to try to create asymmetrical pieces without much regard for balance. They either hung crooked because there was too much weight on one side or were not very attractive. You can always tell when people who normally look at your neck to see what jewels you are wearing suddenly start looking you straight in the eye. Something must be amuck with your jewelry piece and even the face looks better than the asymmetrical design. That means it’s time to go back to the design drawing board.

I recently received the Wee People Newsletter from my friend, the doll maker. She has wonderful artistic taste and her newsletters are a feast for the eyes, ears, and spirit. I hope she will forgive me for including the U Tube video below which she shared with her readers. The photos are by Hans Silvester who also offer a book of similar title available on Amazon. Although I might dub this video with many titles, today it shows me balance. The stills that start part way through the piece show marvelous artistic balance achieved by individuals as they have decorated their faces and bodies. Often the Omo people shown used earth objects to form asymmetrical beauty. The photos offer a lesson in balance for designers. I’m hoping that if I watch it enough, I’ll begin to “see” better and transfer that to my designs. At the very least, the music and photos of the video together present a peaceful aura.

As for the balance from computer, to design table, to cows . . . I can only hope for the best.

Dreamcatcher Designs