30 Days of Gratitude: Day 14

I'm grateful that I've got only four taxol treatments remaining.  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 13

I am so grateful for my crooked little tree and all of its special ornaments.  Either really old, handmade, or given to me by friends, each one is special, and many have stories.  Each year when I pull my tree out of its bag I'm reminded of the people I love.  Morgan made the big star on top out of paper and then I painted it and sprinkled glitter on it.  There are lots of sequin and button balls that I made, and two that Melinda made.  There's my dear friend, Carrie's, exquisite marbled glass ornament, the antique Czech glass ornaments that are so old they're almost clear now, and a few really special ones that were my mom's.  I made a rule for myself a few years ago that I could only buy one really special ornament a year.  By last year I decided that I had to make the ornaments or they had to be given to me or they could be from a garage sale or thrift store, but only if they predated the 70s and were glass--I know that's a lot of rules, but I only have so much space to store Christmas ornaments!  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 12

I am decidedly grateful for cold weather.  I like it brisk, not too breezy, and a little sunny.  Yes-siree-bob, that's the weather for me.  Today the temperature won't make it up to 60, and that's fine with me.  I wish it would stay that way for awhile. I like wool socks and I like to wear them every day.  I have a few nice sweaters, but I still can't wear them because it's not cold enough for wool.  It still hasn't been cold enough to wear a coat.  But it's Texas and I should be careful what I wish for.  Last winter we had days in the 20s and 30s and most people weren't happy about that.  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 11

I am grateful for antibiotics.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 10

I missed posting for a couple of days because I got a mean case of Strep throat, so I'm going to play catch up today.  


Saturday I went to the Cherrywood Arts Fair and was so grateful that Austin is home to so many amazing makers!  Several of my friends were exhibiting their wonderful work and I was able to find quite a few fabulous gifts that day.  I so wanted to buy things for myself because there were fabulous things: jewelry, handbags, pottery, knitted and crocheted hats and scarves, wonderful upcycled tire planters and mirrors, and some great drawings, but, alas, I'm going to have to wait for self-giving! I'm linking to a few of the artists I particularly liked  at Cherrywood so you can see their work and maybe do a little shopping, too.


One of my favorite Austin jewelers is my lovely friend, Christine Terrell, making fabulous and unique pieces from upcycled tins, many of them vintage: http://www.adaptivereuser.blogspot.com/ 
From Christine's blog, which is terrific--both amusing and informative, you can find links to websites and local stores selling her jewelry.  Her work can also be found this holiday season at Blue Genie.


Another jeweler I just discovered is Lindsay Field of Lindsay Field designs (http://www.lindsay-designs.net/).  She specializes in handmade torch-worked glass beads and fused art glass that is then made into beautiful jewelry. Lindsay's work can be found on Etsy.  I ended up buying two pairs of her earrings as gifts and it was really difficult to stop there. I wanted everything!  


Then there's Holli Brown of Holli Brown Mosaics. I saw her wonderful work first at the East Austin Studio Tour, then again at Cherrywood Art Fair.  Holly makes everything from frames, platters, bowls, and art pieces to pendants, earrings, and rings.  Watch this cool video of Holli at work (http://www.hollibrownmosaics.com/video.htm), then check out her website: http://www.hollibrownmosaics.com/index.html

One of my favorite local artists is my dear friend, Laura Maclay, who makes the most beautiful handbags you've ever seen. 

 Intricately machine embroidered and/or hand painted, Laura's bags are meticulously crafted and are truly works of art.  She's been making bags for around 15 years, having sewn since childhood.  For the past several years, she's been creating fabulous paintings and making gorgeous quilted wall hangings as well.  Laura's next show will be the American Craft Council's flagship show in Baltimore in March.  When she launches her new website, I'll let you know.  

Clare Pousson and Mark Wolter of Bluehaven Porcelain make the most exquisite ceramic pieces!  Much of it white porcelain with transparent matte glazes and simple, graphic black designs.  I  first discovered them at the Gruene Clayfest this past fall.  This time I actually bought a couple of the black and white dishes.  Mark makes the pieces on a potter's wheel and Clare does the painting and glazing.  They make a dynamite team.  You can see some of their work on their Facebook page: 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bluehaven-Porcelain/130891520295631


I met delicate English beauty, Lucy Begg, a couple of years ago at Arthouse at the Jones Center through our mutual friend, Alexa, then we downed a few pints at Lovejoys and I felt like I'd known her for years.  I knew Lucy was a Cambridge/Berkley-trained architect with a pretty diverse background and that more recently she was closely involved in the Design Build Alliance, which is a start-up comprised of architects and students designing low-income housing.   I'd never seen her wonderful drawings until this past weekend at Cherrywood.  Her landscapes are my favorites. I want to see them on my walls. Here's a link to Lucy's website, sproutfarm ink,
http://www.sproutfarmink.com/#mi=1&pt=0&pi=1&s=0&p=-1&a=0&at=0 


Think turning tires into planters is tacky?  Well think again.   Flippin Retire is the brainchild of Lee Gardner-Warrenfells.  Lee turns trash tires into the most marvelous planters, and does everyone a great service by upcycling waste into functional art. Trained as a graphic designer, of course she has a great eye for color and design and her planters are just fantastic!  I especially love her mirrors.  Well, you need to see her work, because I just can't describe how cool it is:  http://flippinretire.com/home.html


I am grateful for the makers.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 9

Today I'm grateful for color:  reds, blues, greens, grays, browns, yellows, purples; I love them all.  

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 8

Today I am grateful for sleep, preferable in 8-hour stretches.  I like it all: the magic meanderings of dreamtime, the blissful relief of being unaware for hours, and the mystery of the body's night-time healing rituals.  I am glad that thanks to a little blue pill, I can now sleep for eight hours at a time instead of four, five, or six.  I wake, if not refreshed, at least not exhausted.   Ah sleep.