Less Than 3 Weeks, and Counting!

We are going to Oregon this year for our vacation. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and we finally have the chance to get out of this heat for 8 glorious days! We will fly into Medford on July 16, and try to see as much of the western side of the state as possible in a week. Our itinerary includes Medford, Ashland, Salem (Art Fair, Yeah) possible Portland and the Marrekesh restaurant, Grants Pass, Astoria and other coastal towns, and Crater Lake, of course. This is the thought that will get me through till then-It rains there!
This is also a hunting trip, sort of. Hunting for that elusive place to call home. The place to work and play and dream and live. The place that will tell me it's time to retire these wandering ways and give my attention to living in the present. The place where I can set up my studio and really work.
Or, maybe this trip will lead me someplace else. Maybe, like Dorothy, all I have to do is click my heels 3 times and say "There's no place like home".

Home Sweet Apartment

I haven't lived in an apartment since my early 20's. It takes a little getting used to, but I guess it's OK for now. I have no attachment to this place, though I have put out my glass and will hang my pictures. I like the large closets, and have even arranged the spare room to serve as a makeshift jewelry studio. The only thing I won't be doing here is making the beads. Fortunately I have found studio space to use. It's not as convenient as walking outside, but it will do for the time being.
This is the transition period. The time to decide. The time to listen to my intuition and follow my heart. It is not the time to get attached to places, things or situations, but it is the time to let things be as they will. Good will come if expected, and the life I imagine will be.
In the meantime, I will enjoy what is. I am fortunate to be able to do this, to work and save and wish and think and believe. I believe some call that magic.

This blog is aptly named

I know I said I would never do it again, but it seems that this summer I will really be "Playing with Fire in Phoenix." Yup, here for another summer. Not happy about it. Not sure if I can make it through. Don't even know where or if any glass will be melted, or any art made. Seems like things spun out of my control this year, and I have to learn to let go.
Sold the house (good), could not find another (bad), could not agree on a place to go (bad), ended up in an apartment (bad), but it does have a pool (good), except who even wants to go outside when its 110 (bad). Add up the goods and the bads and you can see where my mindset is. Big surprise.
Last year it was so exciting moving into an apartment in Flagstaff. The air was clean and fresh (when there were no wild fires), the mountains were cool and green, the glass was just waiting to become something beautiful. It seemed a summer of unlimited possibilities. Going outdoors was a given, who could possibly waste the beautiful weather and scenery? I could walk to Jamie's, the Campus Coffee Bean, and the grocery store-even at midday! I could bike to downtown, the library, the hiking trails. The surroundings inspired me, and each day was something to look forward to and live fully and completely.
Fast forward to the present. Anybody living in Phoenix will understand that if it's not done outside by 6AM, it's not going to get done until the next morning. But this is my challenge. Will I come out the other side of this summer intact? It's anybody's guess. I'll keep you all posted.

It's April Already?

Where has this year gone to? It seems I blinked, and it's spring and seriously close to summer. I think I have become what I didn't really want to be. I have been working non-stop since December. Working for pay, not working as in creating. I miss that part of me. I thought that I would be able to keep that part of me going, but I feel so depleted. I feel that I have nothing left to give.
How can I find my muse again? Do you have any ideas for me? The glass is calling, the ideas are there, but the energy isn't. I need Flagstaff to help me heal.

Hello Again

Hi to all! I know I have been MIA lately, no jewelry, no blog posts, no "nuthin". Was starting to feel bad about it until I read Kim Miles latest blog posts http://kimmiles-takingthelongwayhome.blogspot.com/, and I realized I wasn't alone. Sometimes the creative nature needs downtime to refresh and renew. I hope that's what is happening to me.
Those of you who have been reading my blog know that I had a tough time coming back to Phoenix after my idyllic summer in Flagstaff. Who knew I would crash and "burn" like I did. It was really hard coming back, and even harder to create good work. I just wasn't inspired. Then I took a new job, leaving friends and familiarity behind. Not only did I feel like a fish out of water, but I also felt guilty about not creating.
Nothing has ever been helped by will be helped by that! So, it is comforting knowing that others go through this too. And, eventually I will feel the urge to create again.