You Aren't Imagining Things - There's a Change!

Blooming Enamels Jewelry on Etsy

So I've been quiet, yet busy, for the past year as I've been traveling a path of exploring where my creative needs and artistic expression want to go. I've taken my time but I believe I've arrived at a destination -- it's enameling!

I first looked into working with metal clay but found it too messy and persnickety for my tastes and so as I kept searching I stumbled (very serendipitously I think!) upon torch-fired enameling -- and I love it! It's all about color and using high heat (fire) to fuse the color to a metal base. I mainly use raw copper sheets and cut and forge it into the shapes I want and then fuse the colored glass onto the metal with fire from a torch. I tried using a kiln but found that process very slow and boring! I also use pre-made metals objects, which are either copper or iron, such as beads. Whatever the case it involves dangling the metal through a flame to heat it up to about 1500 degrees Fahrenheit and then dragging it through, or sprinkling on, colored powdered glass. It's a very quick and dynamic two-handed process that really engages my interest and, since it's fire, keeps me on my toes!

Once the colored metal piece is created I turn it into jewelry by adding crystals or mixing pieces together or layering. Also, I make all my own sterling silver ear wires. It takes more time this way but I was told early on that the individuality of the handmade wires adds to the jewelry and makes it truly handcrafted and unique.

So anyway, this is just the beginning! I will talk and write more about my new endeavor as I keep going but just wanted you to know that your weren't imagining things - I *have* changed things around and what was Bloom Spirit Expressions is now Blooming Enamels. I hope you like it as much as I do! :)

The End is Only the Beginning

So Autumn is heavily upon us here in the northern midwest state of Ohio. I usually don't like the Fall season. It portends colder temperatures which I don't like and also the ending of flowers and meadows which I love so much. Fall actually brings me a bit of anxiety with it's process of ending the summer revelry...

But this photo is intriguing for me. I see it as two youngster leaves eager to join in the Fall festivities. Even before the older, elder leaves have begun their journey into wintertime and their next incarnation, the young leaves have jumped into the spirit of the season with full force.

What does this mean for me exactly? I'm not totally sure. Something about eager anticipation, the rush of youth, trust in the future, unconditional acceptance.

The juvenile leaves aren't afraid of the ending which Autumn signals -- they have embraced it as the beginning of an adventure into the unknown.

Lessons from a Grasshopper

You've gotta start somewhere... Just do it... One step at a time...

I watched this grasshopper for several minutes as she negotiated the challenge of the vertical obstacle she wanted to overcome.

Of course she could have jumped using all the power of her back legs. She's very good at jumping. But in this situation jumping would have led to a nice headache.

So instead, the grasshopper slowly and carefully stepped off of the piece of wood while reaching with her front legs.

She then used her back legs, the jumping legs, for support only. The grasshopper steadied herself for a few moments, with her jumping legs stilled, until she found her bearings and felt comfortable.

After some time the grasshopper felt strong enough to release the back leg of support and grasp the wall fully with all four of her legs.

She then scrambled up the wall and jumped over it to be rewarded with the open patch of grass on the other side.