Me Musing . . . November 8, 2008 . . .

An artist friend, writing on her Blog this morning, posed this question:
'Does an artist nowadays need a separate website when she has her work for sale at online sales venues and writes frequently on her own Blog site, also showing her work?' The accepted answer is (she wrote): 'Yes, because Galleries tell us we have to have one!!!!!!'

It's another one of those "we ________ (artists in this case) are always TOLD that we must _________ (you fill in the blank!)"

Is interesting that last month during my monthly abdominal massage, when I was my most relaxed, these words came floating out of the ethers: "You can forget everything you have been told". I remember smiling at the thought and then relaxing more deeply.

At the time I had nothing really to relate it to. Last week, however,
I decided to combine both my Studio website (che-usa.com) with this, my Musing site. It took me awhile to figure it all out, but decided with the cost of hosting services going up, I could do both on one site.
(Anyone typing in www.che-usa.com is automatically forwarded to TheOrangeWheelbarrow.com and can find there all the pages from that site.)

Soooooooooooo when I read Connie's Blog this morning, I smiled . . .
1) because I had just combined both my sites and 2) because I remembered those words that floated by last month: "You can forget everything you have been told"!!!!!! Obviously the lesson/gift (or whatever you want to call it) of entering this 21st Century is that what we have always been told may not necessarily have been the 'whole' truth. It is wise to observe who is holding the fishing line that is being dangled in front of us . . . who benefits the most by keeping us believing what we have been told to believe??? The Galleries have oftentimes been the 'Wall Street' of 'Main Street Artists'.

Perhaps 'The Shift' that everyone talks about coming in 2012, has actually already arrived . . . and it is within us . . . not some fearful 'outer event' that is bearing down on us.

Looking back, I would say that the first 40 years of my life consisted of 'wending' my way, one foot in front of the other, doing what was expected of me as a daughter, wife, worker . . . all the roles we take on in life.

The next 20 years, my 'foundation stoner . . . ooops . . . stone! (My maiden name is Stoner and I still can't stop putting an 'r' at the end of stone each time I type it!!!!!!!) was the word 'Bricolage' (a French word meaning 'taking the ordinary items at hand and transforming them into the extra-ordinary'). This phase ushered in the 'creative life' and exploring it in all its facets.

I have always been drawn to interesting words from other languages and a few years ago I found the word KanShoKu . . . 'the object you are touching . . . is touching you back' and I would have to say that for the past year and a half, that word has been gently shifting, moving and molding me into exploring more deeply what excites me, what moves me, what I want to touch next in and with my creativity.

everything we do
in a slow,
time-honoured,
and thoughtful way
is a work of art

Something that has concerned me for the past few years is where is our 'culture' heading . . . is 'getting a better deal than Walmart' really what we aspire to???????

We seem to have lost sight of the 'Value of Beauty' and the 'Soul' that is present in hand-woven/painted/sewn/crafted pieces. If we are honest with ourselves, we would probably admit that we long to be surrounded by goods that 'remember' the hands and the heart that made them.

"Be not afraid of beauty and richness when you can get it."
~ John Ruskin

Yesterday, since it was Friday, I took the advice I had written about on Thursday . . . (Friday Finishings) to 'complete ONLY what is mine to do!'

I had some paperwork laying around waiting for another piece to come from someone else before sending it on. It dawned on me that even though the 'extra piece' would be a nice addition, my work 'stands alone'. Soooooooooooooo off it went into the mail!

I also finished the 'stool covers' that I have been meaning to make for months/years!

They are not really pizazzzzzy
but they blend in well in the kitchen,
reminding me of the Southwest . . . which is good.

I had more scraps from the discharged corduroy vest left and decided to make another purse, since the first one came out so fun!

Front ~ this time with 'self' fabric handle
and lined with the green 'chenille-like' fabric on the vest

Back ~ with eyeglass holder

Magnetic closure inside and
two fun buttons outside

I was having so much fun that I decided to make two little cases that can be used for driver license, credit card, etc. for 'traveling light'.

They only took a few minutes
to sew and have velcro closure

Until soon,

Che'usa

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