Last night I had the pleasure of doing a little ZOOM studio tour & demonstration for the Glenview Art League. They all “stopped by” for some chatting & banter…. then a few demos of throwing on the wheel, followed by some stamping & surface decoration… and more discussion. Hopefully they all had fun… I know I did. After all, it was all about ME!!!… ha!

Such weird times when we’re still showing our studios, artwork & process through a small, non-tactile computer screen. I so look forward to getting back to in-person face-to-face fun! Keep getting those vaccines so we can get some herd immunity and get back to more normal days!

Well, it’s the last day of April… and the last day for Monthly Handmade Chain Challenge entries! As I’ve been working hard in the studio lately… I saw some “inspiration” right in front of me on my pegboard. So I decided to make this month’s handmade chain out of the wire twist ties that all of my clay comes in from Continental Clay!

And what’s the perfect pendant for a clay-bag-twist-tie-necklace?…
well, a miniature bag of clay with its own twist tie of course!!!

#2021chainchallenge – #handmadechain – #chainlinks2021

We’re nearing the end of the month…
and again, I’m looking for a little inspiration!

Leaving the studio late tonight after a very productive evening. And as I was walking away I was struck by the leafy patterns shadowed on the sidewalk. You don’t always get to see great shadows like these when it’s dark outside!!!

Last night I watched the new Tina Turner documentary on HBO Max. It chronicles her life through her amazing talent, her abuse, her strength & celebrates her well-deserved success against the odds. From picking cotton & physical abuse… to Top 10 hits & world wide acclaim. She’s “simply the best, better than all the rest!”

I had the chance to see her live in concert with some of my friends at the Rosemont Horizon shortly after college during her Mad Max period. We were so excited to see her in all of her chain-maille glory from the eighth row center!!! At the time I had no idea of her personal story, I was just a fan of her music & videos! So glad I got to see the living legend… one of the BEST concerts ever!!!

Be sure to catch this documentary while it’s streaming. It tells a very touching story with home movies & vintage footage. Frequently sad showing her struggles behind the scene, not only with Ike, but also with recording studios & executives. Yet also uplifting as you see her climb her way out of the “Nutbush City Limits” with the “River Deep, Mountain High” to become your “Private Dancer” because “We Don’t Need Another Hero”… we’ve already got TINA.

Exploring and finding cool things! You know how much I LOVE rusty metal & weathered wood. So imagine how excited I was by this beautifully dilapidated barn out in “the middle of nowhere.” A beautiful day with this beautiful barn… and a fun chat with the farmer who was so nice… even though the “No Trespassing” sign was about three feet away!!!

Kinda diggin’ how the afternoon sun is streaming in through the blinds in Lisa’s studio next to mine… and the sun dots making their way through are lining up just perfectly on the cool skull on her wall.

So no one told you life was gonna be this way.
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke,
Your love life’s DOA.
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear.
When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month…
Or even your year, but…
I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU.

Well, it’s been quite a year… 525,600 minutes.

A year since the pandemic hit. A year since we could gather in groups. A year since the big shutdown. A year of no family gatherings. A year since the world changed forever. 525,600 minutes. A year of no hugs, no handshakes, special events, no dinners inside restaurants, no live theater & so many more.

Somehow a year has gone by and affected everyone in different ways. Many lost their jobs. Many lost their lives. Many lost their life’s savings. Many lost their hope. Luckily, it seems as though we are nearing the end of the pandemic, not that it will ever be truly over.

But with vaccinations & smart choices, we’re all looking forward to getting back to whatever our new normal will be. And looking toward a better 525,600 minutes to come! Stay safe. Stay strong. Make smart choices as we move forward with more “Seasons Of Love.”

So we all know that social media is somehow “controlled” by some crazy algorithms that seem to be ever-changing. Looks like this is the current “secret” for Instagram, and I’m pretty sure the same holds true for Facebook. The more you “Share, Comment & Like” on someone’s posts, the more you’ll get to see more of them in your News Feed.