Claire Stahlecker - Forever Better

I was just thrilled to find this new video of my niece, Claire online recently! I incorporated her song "Quit You" in an earlier post here, collaged with my "Night Blooming Cereus" photo and video piece. The cactus was the visual star and Claire's music was the "sound track."

In this video, Claire is center stage! The tapes were made at a live performance of another of her original songs, "Forever Better." Way to go, Claire! I hope you all enjoy this--I have to admit it is a bit of shameless family self-promotion! But I'm just thrilled by the way my young niece is pursuing her music and making it a career. And although I'm probably prejudiced...I think she's a really good musician.

Thanks for dropping by and hope your Sunday is just lovely!

Exuberant Orchids

A few weeks ago, I photographed the beginning of new buds for a couple of orchids I acquired last winter. They are a type of orchid that I haven't grown before and I bought them out of bloom because they were so much less expensive this way. I got 4 new plants and now, two of them are in full, glorious bloom and I'm just thrilled! What a special treat even as the darkness comes so early and lasts so much longer each day.

Preparations for a Holiday Sale

New Earrings with Cubic Zirconia drops (above)

New Earrings (& Matching Pendants) with German Leaded Crystals (above)

New Earrings with Clear and Colored, Faceted and Smooth Czech Glass (above)

So I'm getting a little nervous now because come this Saturday night, I must have my car all packed and ready to go for early Sunday morning. I've agreed to participate in a Holiday Market in Chicago, and I just don't DO these kinds of things often enough to have things "all organized and together" LOL!! But now, in the final countdown, I realize there is the inevitable "slippage" as in, "shoot, I meant to get that finished before I go," etc. And since I've been making new earrings like crazy the past few weeks, I had hopes of posting at least some of this new "bling" to my Etsy or Artfire shops before the sale...but it's not going to happen. The photos aren't done and my time is just too tight to do all the writing that goes with putting pieces up online.

So I made a collage of SOME of the new pieces I'm "taking to market" and am posting them here, because all of you, dear blog readers, are invited to let me know if anything catches your eye and you want more details about it...because I'd be happy to list individual pairs of earrings before I take it all "to market!"--Just sayin'!-- The prices are very reasonable, ranging from a starting price of $12 & $14 for fancy glass to a middle range of $20 to $22 for nice big Cubic Zirconia with wire wrapping and my own hand formed wires. Many pairs fall in between these two points. The very "top of the line" right now are the long Cubic Zirconia that run $27. Shipping, with Delivery confirmation and a decorative gift box, adds a flat $3 to earring orders, regardless of the quantity.

And if you're in the Chicago area? of course you're invited to drop by in person (I'd be thrilled!) The time is 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday 11-8-09; the location is the Emanuel Congregation at 5959 N. Sheridan Road; and the occasion is a "Chanukah Market" featuring fair trade and locally crafted goods...not sure how many other jewelry booths there will be but I'm told is going to be a good group of booths....I have a beautiful postcard for the event here in PDF format that I'm happy to email to anyone interested, just use the email address below.

I'm running behind, of course, so I'd best get back to work here....but do drop me a line directly, if you like, at WillOaksStudio (at) aol.com as I'll be checking in regularly until the car is packed on Saturday night....and no doubt, there will be pieces still available after that. However, I forgot to mention I'm doing another Holiday Market in Schaumburg, IL one week later...to be continued!

Dona Nobis Pacem

Bloggers for Peace - The Gallery of Peace Globes

Blogblast for Peace - Official Website

Dona Nobis Pacem - The Peace Globe Posts

I truly do believe that learning to share our world peacefully is our only chance to shed too many human, self destructive tendencies in order to move into a more hopeful future. Without peace, the priorities are all messed up and destruction takes the place of nurturing and caretaking our beautiful, fragile planet. I was drawn to this program as my installation artworks done in the 80's and 90's grew out of the concept that nature, and our earth (the healthy parts, anyway) were precious and fragile. At some time, I'll have to dig out those photos to share...but for now, I chose to make my own little "peace globe" and to participate in the "blogblast for peace!" Namaste!

Wordless Wednesday (Italy)

Subtitle: "Gestures"
Special note: My Blog Post #200

Awards, Fun Stuff, Gratitude

I've been terribly negligent about acknowledging the awards that have been given to my blog for the past stretch...I'm very honored and appreciative, and totally distracted and caught up with this other whole agenda of photos, art pieces, weather, etc. and all...so I postpone and procrastinate. Today, I will catch up with some of these, and publicly thank these fellow bloggers who have noticed my blog recently. Unfortunately, this list isn't complete (sorry!) so I'll have to return to it when I can......

Nearly a month ago (ooops!) Threads of Magique sent me a KreativeBlogger Award with the following rules:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you.

2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.

3. Link the person who nominated you.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.

5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'

6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

OK, well at least I said thank you right away...and the logo is above!
And my thanks to Threads of Magique - a blog just full of magical and curious objects made by a couple of sisters from beautiful Oregon! Now, I'm NOT going to pass this on specifically--but I will give a few of the "7 things" a quick shot, I guess....
1.) In 1997, I was a Fulbright Fellow and was based in Lodz (pronounced Woodge) Poland where I did research and taught at an art academy for Spring semester.
2.) I love Europe and have been traveling and staying in different places there since 1983, mainly, through work I've gotten centered around my artwork (so not really "vacations" so much as "work.")
3.) I used to write an art review column for the weekend edition of a daily newspaper in Anchorage, where I lived and worked for about 8 years.
4.) And while I lived in Anchorage, I did some teaching at the University there--beginning drawing and intro to art history classes--classes I got to teach as an adjunct professor.
5.) I love green tea and apples, every day!
...................................Ha ha, that's plenty for now....I'm feeling sort of uncomfortable delving into my personal stuff like this!

So that brings me to the next award, sent to me by Cher and Rich of the provocative blog "Ask Cherlock", with no strings attached! (Whew, very cool she says tentatively......) And I love the spirit of this award as it acknowledges the idea that really amazing friendships get formed through the connections made by blogging. And it's true...I keep meeting some of the most interesting people through the regular (or semi-regular) visits to blogs that I've discovered in one way or another! And it's so intriguing by how you sort of get to feel like you "know" these bloggers and care about them, even though you've never met face to face....although I admit, the virtual world here does take some getting used to!

And finally, a challenge given with this award from Brenda over at Split Rock Ranch--one word answers to 35 questions...OK, one word isn't too hard, is it? Yes, when one becomes two or three...ha ha ha, well, I tried!

1. Where is your cell phone? Misplaced
2. Your hair? Ponytail
3. Your mother? Brilliant
4. Your father? Kind
5. Your favorite food? Waffles
6. Your dream last night? None
7. Your favorite drink? Green Tea
8. Your dream/goal? Art Career Continues
9. What room are you in? Office/studio
10. Your hobby? Horticulture
11. Your fear? Violence
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? More travel
13. Where were you last night? Out with Friends
14. Something you aren't? Organized
15. Muffins? OK
16. Wish list item? Kitten
17. Where did you grow up? Woodstock (IL)
18. Last thing you did? Designed ads
19. What are you wearing? Sweats
20. Your tv? Very old
21. Your pets? 2 cats, 1 dog
22. Friends? Many!
23. Your life? Evolving
24. Your mood? Mellow
25. Missing someone? Rebecca (friend)
26. Vehicle? Subaru
27. Something you're not wearing? Bra
28. Your favorite store? Etsy
29. Your favorite color? All!
30. When was the last time you laughed? One hour ago
31. Last time you cried? One week ago
32. Your best friend? Brother & Sister
33. One place I go to over and over? Campground
34. One person who emails me regularly? Sister
35. Favorite place to eat? Taco Bell

OK, so I know this is probably incomplete by blog award standards....but I really need to get back to finishing some new pieces here. I'm doing my first "holiday show and sale" of the season this weekend, and I DO NOT have my act together...that's right, I'm disorganized! Thank you to all my "blogging friends!" And thanks for stopping by.....

Comparing the Contrasts

Two mornings, about 3 days apart, and the conditions couldn't be more different. The brighter set features sunlight breaking through intense, glowering cloud cover, so that the backdrop was darkness and the foreground was bathed in golden light.

The foggier views are dimmer, darker, mistier. I've tried to pair up similar views for the fun of the comparison. While I was shooting the fall foliage color down in Missouri, we were losing what was left of the year's foliage up north here. The hard frosts have turned all the corn to a dry, golden texture.

With weather this extreme and changeable, it really makes sense to keep the camera at the ready! Unfortunately, I forgot to grab it for my evening walk with Dakota where the sun was setting and the moon was rising. Oh well, maybe tonight?

A few other Autumn notes:
-- The Canadian geese have been very active. I've been told that the adults must teach the new youngsters about flying in formation before their final migration begins...but I'm not sure if this is true. But they are constantly flying around and honking like crazy.
--I'm actually waiting and listening for the Sand Hill Crane migration to fly overhead. They are usually up so high, they are hard to spot EXCEPT that they are so noisy (raucous!) that if I'm on hand when this event begins, it gives me a thrill to watch them.
--And finally, although I personally don't eat meat, I do allow one friend, who is an experienced bow hunter, to prowl our acreage here in search of deer in season. He is a true hunter, who dresses and consumes what he kills, and is very grateful for this food! Plus, there is a lot of overpopulation pressure by deer in our area as there are no natural predators. For this reason, the hunting season is necessary. Growing up as a farm girl, I don't mind guns for hunting...but I don't allow them on the farm anymore because too many hunters get too nutty and careless in season. It's bad enough it sounds like we're in a battle around here during the annual deer gun hunting weekends.