House of the Moon

And it is raining, still. I know it usually stops by the time we have our annual party, which is the Saturday on or closest after the summer solstice…but it sure is grey a lot, here, still.

The garden loves it, however, and I am not one to complain about free water for my plants. The asparagus is still producing, the spinach has started…the swiss chard is coming up. I hope I get some of these things before it gets too hot…but I will plant more in the fall.

Next year I have to let at least one plot go fallow, it will be sad having less stuff, hmm, maybe I will cram some more plants somewhere else.

We had a lovely past week, with DLJ off for 6 days. Derek had been in the middle of a little potty backslide. It’s his first one. Since I did EC with him for training, he’s been doing #2 in the potty since around 9 months, and was in underwear by his 2nd bday. I had gotten used to it being pretty easy, but all of the sudden he was just NOT going to the potty to pee. At least it was just pee, thank goodness, but still. But we seem to be back on track. So that was the one thing that made the past 1.5 weeks a little frustrating. But we went to Breitenbush Hot Springs and had a great 3 days completely off the grid, everything there is self contained, water for hydro-electric power, geo-thermal for heat….very relaxing. It was overcast but it never rained when we wanted to be outdoors. We all slept wonderfully, with Derek in his own adult sized bed, even, sleeping from night fall until the gong woke us up for breakfast.

My parents are out wandering around Europe on a riverboat, which sounds fabulous. Myself, I am looking forward to having 2 days to myself soon. I think Derek and DLJ will go to visit DLJ’s Mom without me, leaving me here COMPLETELY ALONE with no one to wake me up before 10 am. I might even go out at NIGHT! LATE!

DLJ and I are seeing Imogen Heap in a week or so in Portland, a proper night out.

But DLJ just called saying there is a power outage at his work, plus one at the Vancouver office, so he probably won’t be here for dinner. Sigh. Not sure if I will go ahead and make the salmon, or hold it until Thursday when we will all be home for dinner.

It is so grey out. I think it’s a day to make some decaf once Derek wakes from his nap. We just got our farm milk delivered this morning. It used to be on Wed. at around 6-7 pm, but it was before 10 am this morning! I like this new schedule!

I haven’t made a bead in a few weeks. I am working on a project and sending a tool back and forth to get it just how I want it…but I need to get in there and make something besides straws. I cleaned the studio out yesterday to spic and span, and now it is begging for some creative usage!

A lot of my life is plans right now.

I just finished the yearly really big glass show I do, and it went quite well. Almost as well as last year, within $100 worth in terms of sales. In this still sluggish economy, I’m totally down with doing just as well as the year before.

I think next year, I am ready for my own booth. And the plans for that are already afoot. I’m going to change my work, again, which is always a healthy thing to do, make new things, try new ideas. I’m going to lift my work even higher in terms of overall finished pieces…which will raise prices a bit on some work. But other pieces will stay in a more $40-$80 range, and of course, earrings for even less than that.

So I have a lot of R&D to do…when I have time.

Today someone came out to look at the backyard, as we need a new wall back there to replace the one I helped remove when I was 6 months pregnant, made of railroad ties and full of termites. It will be replaced with stone, and hopefully in the next couple weeks.

Spring is here. While I was gone in AZ the leaves popped and today is a lovely, warm day. I am making soup tonight, Derek is napping and should wake up soon, I want to go out and play in the afternoon sun a little more before I have to come in and cook.

All these plans…some for the next hour, some the next few weeks, some for around this time next year.

It’s fun to make them, even more fun to see them through!

My work in the Museum of Contemporary Craft:

Beads are little, so they are the smallest thing in there, on the right.

Yay!

I forgot. I have to go out to the studio and prep for a demo at the Museum of Contemporary Craft tomorrow. And I need to bring my camera so I can take a photo of my work on exhibit before the show gets taken down in a week or so.

I haven’t played in my studio since before Christmas, I have been so busy and the rain has been relentless. I still love it though, the sound of it on the roof and hitting the lawn outside doesn’t get old. I would like a nice, sunny day, however.

I told Derek today we were going to get some salmon for dinner, and he added, “get bacon, too?” I guess he takes after Dad. I like New Seasons bacon, it has no nitrites in it, but I didn’t have the time to trek over there.

You know,  this quickly turned into  a very boring domestic entry. I actually have a lot going on in my brain right now. I am supposed to go to London in February, a very, VERY short trip. It was short by my decision, so that Derek, who has not been away from me for more than about 10 hours, wouldn’t have to deal with my absence for too long. I could have stayed longer with my friend Thomas, but we are planning a trip specifically to stay with him in the nearish future, and I felt like I couldn’t do that on my own without the family, also a reason for cutting it so short. But now, it’s in upheaval in my head for several reasons. Being away from Derek, being someone who hates flying and cannot sleep on planes then dealing with jet lag, plus being on gig-time while I am there, as I would be helping out and enjoying a very special sold out gig of a very special friend’s…and not have much time to do anything else. Combine that with not having a hope of recovering with a day of sleep when I get home (re: Derek) and  the eco footprint of such a long flight for such a short time, plus United screwed up the schedule and is sending me both there AND back on different flights with different layovers in different cities than I booked with…

I’m still struggling to decide. I know what my gut says, and usually my gut is the “GO GIRL, GO!” type and this time…it’s whispering something else instead of that.

I have a little more time to think on it. Either way, I win, and either way, I lose.

Anyway. I have to get in glass/demo/informal lecture mode now, to teach some folks tomorrow about how fun working with molten glass is!

p.s. BT has a new album coming out! Makes the BT/Dolby tour seem so far away, yet the days on the bus just like yesterday all at the same time. I am very much looking forward to it.

Today I went to an Open House at my friend and massage therapist’s new office. It is SO wonderful. I wish it had been where I was going when I was seeing her regularly a couple years ago. Gorgeous, soothing rooms, wonderful waiting area and couches back in the back of the business that are also comfy. I had a cup of cider and we caught up. I really miss going. It’s a luxury item at the moment, and I do miss it. With my lampwork, and sleeping, my arm was really bothering me when I started going to see her. When I got pregnant, I kept going until the very end. But after Derek was here, no time, no time. I could treat myself now and then, and maybe now I can, now that Derek is able to hang out at home with Dada or even our babysitter up the street. As I left, she popped into the little back office room and came out with a gift certificate for me for a free $30 minute massage from her. I am going to add another $30 onto it and hopefully go right after a holiday, Thanksgiving or Xmas.

It was great to see her, and see how well her business is doing. I strongly rec. her to local women for a massage. She and her hands are fabulous.

We had a good afternoon and evening. I spent some time in the studio working on some new ideas.

Derek is saying all sort of crazy things. “What the heck was that?” “Derek’s big mouth!”

We swear he was also saying “My hot buns” today and I KNOW we have never told him he has hot buns. *boggle*

Lots of kids came to the front door and Derek helped hand out candy. He has never had a single piece, so he didn’t even know what he was giving them. Sweetheart. Next year we will go trick or treating with him. Today he wore his giraffe costume which barely fits. Halloween came just in time.

Not enough time around for all I want to do. It is no one’s fault, no one to blame, but with various illnesses, and other distractions and time sucks, I’m behind. I am behind on my glass straws. I haven’t updated that blog in weeks. Months. I just goofed on a big order and unless the buyer is nice about it, I will maybe break even. It was my own fault for not looking over an alchemy bid on etsy well enough, and as a result she’s getting a FABULOUS deal unless she is understanding about my mistake.

I love making my glass straws, I just wish I had more time. There is a due date for items to be in a local museum in a few days, and I have nothing new for it. I WANT to give them something NEW…very recent…but I may not have time. I have some good stuff in stock…but…

And then I want time alone. Time to just be. But if I take time to just be, I am not taking time to create. And I miss creating. It’s cold now down in the studio, so creating takes a little forethought to turn the heater on. I think I need to make a “Cave night.” Something a friend of mine has. Something another friend calls “bro-ing in.” I need a night to bro-in.” Or I will go mad. And I must create on that night, not sit and do nothing. The sitting and doing nothing should be daytime, during a Derek nap. Fridays were supposed to be that day…but it never happens. Hm.

So, while I would like a pony, I would also like:

A whole day to myself.

A disk cutter (saving up for that.)

Coffee that hasn’t gotten cold by the time I get to it.

An extra day every week to just be with DLJ.

One more REALLY warm day.

Drinking chocolate.

A chasing hammer.

TIME. MORE, MORE, MORE time.

I have some neat news, but it’s not completely sorted out yet. Soon.

But hey! I have a bead in a magazine! The Winter 2010 edition of <i>Bead Unique</i> has one of my focals in it. I am doing a holiday show Dec. 6 downtown in Portland, and it will be nice to have a newer magazine to display with my work. Oy. I need to finish my brochures! Another thing on the list that never ends….

Luny is actually going into the glass studio to PLAY today. No orders, no commissions, trying NEW STUFF with GLASS. It’s been months, literally, since I have time to play on the torch.

YAY for playing with ART!

A little glass gorgeousness to start the weekend. I just shape it, I don’t make those fabulous colors. :p Well…I summon them, I guess, but they are already in there for me to find!

Loki’s Pendant

Have a good weekend, everyone! It’s my Bday tomorrrow, I think we are going camping….in the backyard!

The new torch has a learning curve with Bullseye, but I’m doing alright.

I am doing at least one of the 3 Art in the Round shows in Beaverton, OR this year. They only have 8 or 10 vendors at each one.  They have live music and it is by a fountain and a really nice evening out in a very intimate atmosphere. I was hoping to get one later in the summer, more time to prepare. Of course, they want me at the first one, the last Tuesday in June. Yipe. I have a lot to do. I am almost out of earrings. I need to make a lot of earrings and a few more elaborate necklaces. I have plenty of bracelets, those things just don’t sell much. But I definitely need to make more earrings. I am really happy and excited to do the event. I love community events and this one is in such a nice location, with good restaurants, and the Mayor is even doing a walking tour from the library to the event with anyone who wants to join him! Yay for the Beaverton Arts Commission!

And more straws. I got some colored glass today. Soon I will have amber and lavender glass straws. Woo.

Derek is growing fast. He is so close to being potty trained. He poops on the potty all the time and if I leave him bare booty naked he pees on the potty most of the time with very few accidents.

He and I had a real water fight yesterday. He was throwing the water at me, and me back at him, and we were both in hysterical laughter. It was so much fun.

I am feeling much better about the only child thing. I was having very, very small doubts, but I know this is right for all 3 of us. We all win. What I have to do is to work hard on giving him plenty of opportunities to make friends, and work to get  him to know the family he has. We don’t have tons of cousins for him, but they exist. Extra effort needs to be made that he knows them, enjoys them, and considers them siblings as best he can. That is what I have with my cousin, who is also an only, and it has worked out great. It’s very important he has at least one person he can share his childhood history with.