Deadlines

Would you believe I just got two new deadlines? Nothing fruitful happens until 2010, but that's okay.

I have a Facebook page now. I would give you the direct link, but that would take another 30 minutes of the hard drive grinding away and waiting, waiting, waiting for the page to materialize in order to snatch the link. Just search for me by name or by email address for now. I'll make a link eventually. I've got other new and interesting links to add to the blog, but it's such a pain in the ass right now. I'd really like to work on the web site, I can't go to My Space. The computer locks up when I try. In fact, it locks up when I try a lot of things. But it's free. I really need for someone to keep reminding me of that. I know, I should quite my grousing. At least nothing locks up when I bead, so I'm going to do that now.

This Is A Test

I cannot see my color banner behind my header on this freaking computer. Can you see it? I'd like to know. It's the autumn colors behind all the print (just like on the web site). So I thought I'd pop a couple of old pictures in. Let me know if you can/can't see them.

Apologies For Lack Of Pics, Inspiration, And Other Musings

I apologize. There are no pictures of the new necklace. My loaner computer will not open my photo diskettes (I have an older Mavica). It just wants to try to format them! And the computer doesn't have enough virtual memory for the scanner. On the upside, the computer is free and it lets me connect to the outside world. However, I'm still at a standstill as far as everything else goes. T-man suggested that I fill up some diskettes and then take them to his office to load them onto various spots in cyber space. We'll see. I still need to update the web site but I'm very hesitant to do so. Have I mentioned that this computer is free? Okay. I'm going to attempt a My Space page today and maybe a Facebook page. We'll see how that goes.

I have taken Ariel to school, read my paper (online), scanned the red carpet fashions, had my first cup of coffee and cuddled with my pooch (who thought she was going to type with me). The sun is shining HOWEVER it is colder than . . . . . well, you know. So, on to the musings.

Yesterday, T-man pulled the last of our 2008 tomatoes off the vine. Yes, we had a ton of tomatoes last year and we probably will have just as many this year. We marked out the areas for this year's gardens (please notice the plural there). There are lovely orange marks in my back yard now. I've got the seed catalog ready to start writing the orders in so that it's ready to mail off in a couple of weeks. This year we're going to add more veggies and some herbs, and do some things a little differently. The idea is to save money at the grocery store and to make up for our very expensive eggs! Oh, but they are soooo good and they are soooo pretty (another picture I have not been able to share with you) and we get anywhere from two to five eggs per day. But based on the cost of the coop and feed, they are still very expensive eggs. We may get more hens this spring. We're definitely thinking about it.

As I mentioned, I was scanning the red carpet fashions from the past two awards shows, but I noticed that no one seemed to be wearing the Pantone Color of the Year. It's a beautiful color, don't you think? And it plays so nicely with others. My question is, how do they decide which color gets to be the Color of the Year? Have you ever looked at Pantone's color selection?? Don't forget to check out their spring fashion report while you are there. And go take a look at what Swarovski has planned for us. Inspiration abounds this morning. Hmmm.

So, I'm off the see what I can do on the computer today and maybe get some stitching in this afternoon. Stay warm, wherever you are.

New Necklace Finished In Record Time

Well, I did what I said I would and made a new necklace. I finished it last night and would give you a picture, but T-man has unplugged the scanner and my fat butt does not fit in the space where the plug and outlet live. I've lost some weight, but not enough to fit in there yet.

The necklace was based on an article by Tina Koyama (love her stuff) in the August-September 2008 issue of Beadwork magazine called "Earthy Collage Necklace". Mine has lots of goodies from Carol Wille, some beads from Heather Powers, and some beads from Pam Way. There are also some nifty seed beads and some vintage West German beads included. In making it, there are definitely some things that veered from Tina's instructions and there are definitely things I would do differently. Ariel has already asked for one of her own when I get some more chain.

Anyway, as soon as the scanner gets plugged in, I'll put a picture up. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, T-man has the day off so I'll go see what he wants to do with the remainder of the day.

Definitions II

Ariel got the cutest game for Christmas to be played on the Wii. It's called "My Sims", and basically you move into a town, name it, meet the mayor, and then suddenly become the architect, interior designer, grounds keeper and PR person for the town. During play, you get tips and one of the tips is to "build something nice for yourself -- you deserve it".

T-man made me promise years ago that I would make something nifty for myself at least once a year, something that wasn't a sample or a proposal. It had to be something just for me, not for sale and not necessarily to be reproduced. Sometimes I use my own design, and sometimes I use someone else's (like my Scheherazade necklace designed by Liz Smith or my Laura McCabe Dahlia Locket.
Now in doing this, am I being selfish, especially when I design something I don't intend to share?

Anyway, today I think I'll make something quick and easy, just for me. I'll share pics later. Later, kids!

Definitions

First, in case you were not aware, Texas is in the midst of a drought. It has been very, very dry this last year and very, very warm. Today, for instance, will get up into the 70s with lots of sunshine. Very nice, isn't it? Ah, but it has a very dark side. Because of this freakish weather, the cedar trees (blue berry mountain juniper) are doing their happy dance. All of the weather forecasts are promising a hellish "cedar fever" season. Ugh. There are few things I am more allergic to than cedar trees and they flourish in this area. And to top it all off, there is a little rhino virus going around which has made its way through Chez Buchle so that Ariel missed her first day back to school and T-man is struggling to spend the entire day at work. Me? Oh, I had it for New Year's. On New Year's Eve, I was in bed by 8:30 after having taken my cold and sinus medicine. I'm such a party animal.

Anyway, I thought I'd throw a topic out there before I get away from the computer for the day. What is the difference between art and craft? Better yet, what is the difference between fine art and fine craft? Is it merely the difference between utility and decor? But what if something encompasses both utility and aesthetics? How would it be classified then? Is it the difference between using technical skill or ability to achieve an end and creating something tangible imbued with your spirituality meant only to stir the senses? But again, both can exist in the same object. So where is the line between art and craft drawn and does it matter anywhere other than on an application to a juried fine arts show? (just for instance) AND has that line begun to blur?

Talk amongst yourselves. I believe today I will stitch and I'll be back tomorrow!

New Year, New Intentions, New Goals

Hello there. It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, my little hiatus gave me time to get a lot of things done that would have otherwise fallen by the wayside. But, I have been so utterly bored at times! I didn't realize how much I depend on my computer until I didn't have it to rely on. ACK! It truly is my lifeline to the outside world.

So, new year means new beginnings, right? I don't like to make resolutions. They're so . . . resolute. I like the way Barbe put it: INTENTIONS. My biggest intention for this coming year is ORGANIZATION. I believe that if things are organized, that the rest of it will just fall neatly into place. Organization is the path to health, wealth and happiness Chez Buchle this year, and by golly we are going to become organized if I have to beat every one of them on a daily basis! (On the upside, the others here in the house have eagerly taken to organization without dire threats from yours truly.) In fact, Natalie is here today taking away more items from her room so that it can morph into my new studio. O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

So there you have it: my intention for 2009, which will make room for other, smaller intentions. I've read that if you do something for 90 days it becomes a habit that is difficult to break, so I'm giving it all I've got! And on that note, what are your intentions for this new year?

I've missed you all, but I'm back!!