Whitman

....walked out to the studio, after making diner, after teaching.... the late evening air was so cool, so lovely. No hint of the awful August ahead. The birds were still about. The cat snuck out beside my leg, exited to be loosed on the night world. I had mistakenly left the radio playing softly on a shelf. Even though the dinner in the house was in the oven, the timer about to ding, I thought I'd just flip on one soft desk light and touch some of my tools, revisit the project, one of millions I've had to abandon mid-process to go to a part time job. So I stole it, that soft moment at the bench, not even 4 minutes of time and then it happened. Just liek things like these do, there it was wafting out of the radio... someone reading Whitman.

I froze at the words. I've never payed one whit (no pun intended) of attention to Walt Whitman. I preferred the romantics or Rumi, but I could not ignore it. It sliced my thoughts open with such a quick clean cut. Here try it yourself:

"There's no object so soft that it makes a hub for the wheeled universe. And any man or woman shall stand cool and supercilious before a million universes. And I call to mankind, be not curious about God, for I who am curious about each am not curious about God. No array of terms can say how much I'm at peace about God and about death. I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not in the least, nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself. Why should I wish to see God better than this day? I see something of God each hour of the 24 and each moment then, in the faces of men and women. I see God and in my own face in the glass. I find letters from God dropped in the street and everyone is signed by Gods name and I leave them where they are, for I know that others will punctually come forever and ever. And as to you, death, and you bitter hug of mortality, it is idle to try to alarm me."

so beautiful.... guess I had better pay more attention.

My New Etsy shop

Check out my new shop saltwatercowgurlz.etsy.com. The focus will be belt buckles and belts. I don't have any buckles up yet,soon, soon! But I have plenty of belts!

My Students Buckles

Thought I'd share some of Cape Fear Community College students' belt buckles:
Alex Kleiner, Aleah Smith ( has dried pansies under plexiglass) and Courtney Fryar.

Otter Skull Fetish

Here are pictures taken at the Iron Chef Artists Challenge by Rachel Bowen Thanks Rachel!!!
In these the fetish is still damp. I made it to hang on the wall. The sausage casings and concentrated watercolors dried lighter, and if I remember correctly some of the salt left a white frosty effect. BTW- the otter skull was a resin replica!! No otters were harmed in the Iron Chef Artist Challenge or the making of this art piece. Also the large chunk of coral was supplied by AF in the kit. As many of you know, I'm adamantly against using coral. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FARM RAISED OR FAST GROWING CORAL. these are myths perpetrated by the bead industry to fool you into purchasing guilt free. I almost had an argument with the bead store lady in Port Townsend. She insisted that there are farms in China that raise coral! Which I find preposterous. I was buying red glass there that looked coral and commented as such. But I just was weak at AF and used this piece that was provided.
Read more:
Oceana
Too Precious to Wear
World Wildlife Fund

Artfest Experiences

Hey! This is a photo by Adeola. I'm planning my creation at the Iron Chef Artist Challenge sitting next to Theo Elsworth, wearing his ghost glasses. She just a posted Artfest pictures on her blog! click here
You can see some of the great energy generated by the Iron Chef Artist Challenge and if you scroll down, I really enjoyed her pics of the journaling in the Kitchen Shelter by the beach. Love that tattoo! The bonfire journaling party is one of my FAVORITE events at AF the fire, the dogs and marshmallows, the creativity, the old woodstove going.... I well up with emotion!

Hat seller

I feel like the hat seller in a children's books. They're stacked on my head like a Dagwood's sandwich. I have not prepped and uploaded any Artfest photos nor have I worked on my tool junkie blog... and I am taking time out for this right now. the last down time I had was the Monday after Artfest when Robert and lazed and wandered about Port Townsend. I hit the ground here literally running. Our plane landed Tuesday after Artfest after an overnight redeye flight at 10:30 am. My dad picked us up at the airport and drove Robert to his part time outfitter job, and me to straight to the community college! I taught for three hours went home and collapsed.
I feel better about things when I forgive myself for all that I do.
Lists are great:
-clean house, unpack, set my studio up again
-teach/prep demos/ grade fix grades that are not loaded up online
-work on commissions from Adorn Me: don't worry ladies I've not forgotten about you!
-start with new VERY COOL private student she's hooked me up with a local teaching workshop venue
-meet/talk/email with new local teaching workshop venue:stay tuned!
-Email with event organizer in DC for a new retreat/ there come up with classes for them!
-Help organize CFCC student art show jurying this week/ view event venue/ plan display for the metals (need to repaint the showcase next week)
-make work to submit to a potential book a friend is doing???
-Take work back to the Gallery and get more made for summer
-Etsy...sigh... haven't done anything there. I have a new shop opening there of belts and belt buckles but its not happening anytime soon.
-Email...forever the email, sorry Kim... I'm still here!
-Book! yes, I want to do a book! this one is the "for Me" thing on the list. I wish the world would quit turning so I can make work and write!
-Robert and I HAVE to go shop for a car next week. I've been borrowing his and its his kayaking rust bucket (near or in salt water all the time.
-notice what's last on the list:
take care of me! exercize, loose weight, get my waning health under control... plant herbs and flowers....

Anyway the moral of the story is life is never easy for anyone. It throws stuff at us and we need to learn to juggle. So I wear this stack of hats and hey, it shades me from sun, keeps me warm... there are lots of benefits! Its a creative life! I get to make things and make things happen and touch lives in classrooms making things with others! But I don't always return emails quickly. And I might not have time to read and sign your online petition, or come to your party or opening, but I will try!

DC anyone?

Who wants to go to DC for the weekend and make art?? Anyone? Raise your hands....
Stay tuned!

Sublime

Thanks Daxx! Right up my alley!

Robert's Trek to Charleston-Night 1

Mother Nature has reminded Robert just how much he doesn't know!
He had high reviews for the staff at East Bay Park in Georgetown, SC. But tonight on Cedar Island is another story. He said he'd not see another boat or soul for hours. And as he landed and started setting up camp huge mosquitoes descended. He was very nearly sucked to a dry husk before he managed to put on a storm cag to try and gain some protection as he got the tent up. At our last phone conversation he feared they would realize they could all team up and pick up the tent and carry him off like a giant burrito. He said there were so many hitting the tent that it sounded like rain! He pulled as many supplies as he could near the zipper so he could just dart a hand out for what he needed. Not sure this in the man alone communing with nature that he'd hoped for!
Last position: Latitude:33.13423 Longitude:-79.2472

View Larger Map

Roberts Trek to Charleston

SO Robert had to modify his big kayak trip from here to Charleston due to a death in the family over the weekend. But he checked in today at Latitude:33.35687 and Longitude:-79.28007


View Larger Map
He'll paddle down Winyah Bay and out into the ocean. cool.....