Monday, August 20, 2012

We will be at High Hill Ranch/Apple Hill from September 1 through December 8.
In the Gallery, underneath the Pie House!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

What do I wish to start....?

Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday's question is "What do you wish to start?"

I have stacks of  "startings." Pieces of art. Pages of stories. Notes with ideas. Journals of inventions.
I sit back and just think about them all. I ponder the meaning of "start."

...to begin or set out, as on a journey or activity.
...to appear or come suddenly into action, life, view, etc.; rise or issue suddenly forth.
...to spring, move, or dart suddenly from a position or place.
...to be among the entrants in a race or the initial participants in a game or contest.
...to give a sudden, involuntary jerk, jump, or twitch, as from a shock of surprise, alarm, or pain.
 
I have lots of those. I have set out, suddenly go into action, spring, dart, been in several races, and I have jumped, jerked and twitched.
 
I have a stack of stuff/ideas/art that is languishing. Doubt comes in. Procrastination. Soft addictions. Time consuming distractions.
 
I wish to start...finishing.
I wish to start completing what I started. Art, stories, ideas...round them up. Decide what the next steps are. Even domestic projects. I started to organize my closet - get it done. 
 
I want to start finishing the ideas and dreams. Move. Rise and issue forth. Bring tangible results out from the void. The recipe is "dream and manifest, think and do."
 
Start to finish.
 
If you can dream it, you can do it. 
Walt Disney

 
 
Join in! Check out Jamie's blog here.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

If Anything Was Possible...






If anything was possible I would wish for...

Funny how my imagination FLIES with ideas...then stops, "oh noooooo." Then opens again, then closes again. A fantasy begins to form, the POOF! "the voice of reason" makes it disappear.

I get annoyed.

OH, BE QUIET! you naysayer voices inside my head.

So much time is spent in turmoil with the inner-naysayer.
How much freer would I be without it/her/him/them. What would be possible for me if I were free?

And...what would be possible without all those real people out there who seem to always know more than me and make it her/his business to tell me how wrong I am..or how much I don't know...better take this class and get that certificate... THIS is the best book to read and THAT is the best thing to do...I've been doing this for X-many years and therefore....

*sigh*

Why do we create these inner barriers...and why do people become literal barriers?

If anything were possible I would wish for ALL the Naysayers, Critics, and Negative People to ... go away. Join together and have a great time naysaying and criticizing each other...but leave me alone.

I know what I am doing. I am making my own choices for a reason.
If I do not ask, it may mean I am content on my path, EVEN IF it doesn't look right to YOU...it may be the perfect fit for me.

If anything were possible, I would wish for a world (inner and outer) free of Naysayers.

Say I...




(It's Wishcasting Wednesday over at Jamie Ridler Studios!)

Monday, July 9, 2012

Rock Creek Cafe and Bows and Arrows

Breaks are needed! Sometimes you just have to drop what you are doing... go do something else!

The 4th of July was coming up fast on the calendar and we realized...we had no plans! So...we found some fun...and had a great day. A drive up to Rock Creek Cafe to eat some barbeque and watch Roni and the Flight perform!

We checked the map to find out where Rock Creek Cafe was....and it was....waaaayyyyyyy out in the middle of...nowhere.

We drove up Hwy 50, through Placerville...and drove through some beautiful countryside.
Then we came upon a single lane bridge that scared the ba-googles out of me. Josh was all serene... "Look at the view from up here..." Me? I was in the fetal position screaming, "JUST DRIVE TO THE OTHER SIDE!"

Yes. Some photographer I am. I should have been aware and appreciative and taking pictures.
Whatever.

Wow. We found Rock Creek Cafe...out there.

Rock Creek Cafe, 9100 Rock Creek Road, Placerville.

Rock Creek Cafe has been open since 2007 (I believe), and has been doing great! So, if you are ever out in the middle of nowhere outside of Placerville...definitely check them out!

Frank Ethridge - one of the owners...bringing out the barbeque!!

All you can eat barbeque buffet!
"Family style" seating!
We were invited to the Cardboard Boat Race! Cardboard and duct tape...that's all you can use btw...
Roni and the Flight performed...BONUS POINTS!! Back in the corner, playing bass, was Heidi Ethridge...another owner! Serious fun...and then they did some Led Zepplin. I was completely won over!!! (ok, I was already won over and Roni/Flight was REALLY how we ended up there...but by the time they pulled the Led out...I was REALLY won over!)
GREAT fun...and ate lots of barbeque and peach cobbler...and some berry cobbler...and then...
ohhhh, before I forget, the Finnon Lake Dam reconstruction project is now finished and the Disk Golf course is now open.

To find out more about Rock Creek Cafe (they cater too) go here...

On Sunday...Josh and I, still feeling adventurous, decided to go to the new location of Bows and Arrows. I used to browse through Bows and Arrows when they were on L Street, but I had not been to the new location on 19th.

WOW.

Trisha Rhomberg and Olivia Coelho did a GREAT job with the new space. I think it's a brilliant business move...They still have the vintage clothing and accessories (and some new things) up front...the back of the store is the cafe...and out in the very back is a wonderful patio...


Out on the patio...looking in.

Lots of plants!

Misters going full blast and a shade canopy. It was extremely comfortable outside!

Eggs Benedict for me. And it was DELICIOUS!!

Josh had the pancakes with the Peach Thyme syrup. I had a bite...also delicious!

Coffee was good! (always important!)

another view...

The patio is doggy friendly. This cutie kept begging me for food. Would only let Josh pet her, I had to come up with food. Which I didn't have. Because I ate it all. Because it was good!
On Sunday, July 15, Bows and Arrows will be having a quarterly handmade shopping event and bazaar called "Makers Mart." This mart features local artists and crafters. Josh and I participated in Makers Mart years ago...a LOT of fun!

On Sunday, July 21, Bows and Arrows will be involved with "Bacon Fest..."

ok...get it? Bows and Arrows is happening...find out more about everything going on here.

We've had lots of fun...now it's time to get back to work!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Who Do You Wish To Become?

Jamie Ridler posts the question "Who Do You Wish To Become...?"

I am incredibly curious as to what some of the other bloggers have posted, but I am holding myself back! Not easy! What will they say? How do they handle this question?

It's a good one!

I think about it. Check my journal...go outside and look at the gorgeous full moon. Feed the stray cat. Check on bread dough rising in the kitchen. I realize...

My answer is simple.

I wish to become the best me that I can be.

And the best me isn't about being an artist, or writer, or [fill in anything]... It is about who I am without all those labels. It has been a difficult week. I didn't always have the best of me showing. I had an evening of "spinning out" as a beloved friend calls it.

But I "spinned out" incredibly well, and then bounced back from it with just as much....energy.

Perhaps this IS the best...I can be horrifying with amazing skill...or make something of incredible beauty...or cook with wild passion. It is all me.

The best of me is about pushing and gusto and reaching and trying and passion...and not worrying about the "right" punctuation.

I wish to become the best me that I can discover....and it will take my entire lifetime.

For more about Jamie Ridler click here.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Morning Pages - July Kick-off

Jamie Ridler has awakened some of us to the practice of writing 'morning pages' starting today, July 1.

"The Artists' Way" and "Vein of Gold", by Julia Cameron, introduces us to the practice of Morning Pages: to begin your day by writing...BY HAND... three pages of dumping out mind chatter. Ok...that is definitely MY definition!

I did pages for awhile while reading The Artists' Way...then lost the habit. Again, I did morning pages while reading "Vein of Gold"...and dropped the habit. And something here I do not understand. I LOVE doing morning pages, and yet, I keep dropping this activity that I love? What is up with that?

Doing morning pages is a total brain bath. I write everything down. From thinking that the journal I am writing in is 'larger' than most notebooks and maybe a page and a half is the same as three other sorts of pages... LOL. To wondering which bill to pay...to hoping that the next art piece will come together like I see it in my head. I yell at others and myself. I write about when I stop writing to feed the stray cat. I comment on the weather. Anything goes. Anything. It is freeing and enlightening.

Writing my morning pages gets SO MUCH out of my head. Morning pages burns off the crap that seems insistent on building up...and, the best part...morning pages always results in at least, AT LEAST, one nugget of amazing truth.

Yes. Why would I walk away from this delicious habit?

Check out Jamie's blog where she talks about Morning Pages...click here.
Julia Cameron LIVE/The Artists Way blog is wonderful...click here.

My favorite is "Vein of Gold." I have just decided that I'm going to dig that book out and go through it ... again.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wishcasting Wednesday - Heart's Wish

Today for Wishcasting Wednesday, Jamie Ridler asks "What is your heart's wish?"


...in case of you are wondering, of course you can have it all. What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it will be like, but surprises are good for you. And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands." - From Ephron's 1996 commencement speech at Wellesly College, her alma mater.

Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.
Nora Ephron

 
My heart's wish is to embrace the mess and rejoice in the complications. Enjoy the surprises, not be frightened and change my mind. And...my deepest heart's wish is to be the heroine of my life.
 
Thank you, Nora.
 
(Lisa Kewish)


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Did you know we made a video?

A couple years ago we made a short video on "granulation." We have received several emails of people thanking us for making this short, clear and concise edu-vid on one of the processes used by metalsmiths. It has received 4.5 stars!

I thought it would be a good time to do a re-run! Enjoy!


Are there any other kinds of techniques you would like to see? Let us know down in the comments here...  :)

A short re-cap of our Art Fest weekend can be seen here.

Art Fest 2012 High Hand Nursery

I had a great plan to takes LOTS of interesting pictures ... and then the Kewish Designs "store" became busy! This is a very good thing, but it left me with few pictures! Here's a nibble of the weekend...


Entrance to the nursery with the rising sun shining on the sign!

Garden cottage...


 Question; which came first, the tin roof or the tree?

I found the resident kitty. He was checking us out as we waited for the doors to be unlocked.

Artsy shot of "Resident Kitty."
 
Our store front set up with the very cool paintings of Kermit serving as a nice backdrop.
Our neighbor, Kermit.
 
Unni Stevens, her paintings and our earrings. Her husband bought her the earrings after she admired them!
 
Josh contemplates the next featured stone!

2012 Art Fest at High Hand! I love how eye-catching and bright Jewelry by North's booth is!
Our other neighbor, Karsten Mouras, and her amazing colorful paintings was a delight! I didn't capture any shots of her, or her work, but she can be found on Facebook! Go look for "Artist Karsten Mouras" and "Like" her page!

For more on the various artists that were at Art Fest, you can go here.

It was a wonderful event! Very successful for Kewish Designs! We are looking forward to doing more events at High Hand!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Wishcasting Wednesday

Jamie Ridler poses the question,

What do you wish for this summer?

And my mind goes on overdrive. Wave after wave of ideas and possibilities. Desires, dreams and needs. Yes, but what do I wish for this summer?

I wish for a summer filled with fulfillment of my ideas, dreams, desires and needs. I wish for a summer filled with possibilities that manifest. I wish to allow myself to go ahead and just unleash this bounty of creative impulses and have no expectation of outcome...just let things bubble up and let them be born and let them fly.

I wish for a summer of pure creative energy.


Saturday, June 16, 2012

High Hand Recon Mission

We are doing Art Fest 2012 at High Hand on June 23 and 24, 2012. I had heard about High Hand, but had never been. So, on the hottest day in the area thus far, Josh and I headed out to check out the scene. Sometimes it is good to know what you are getting involved in, before the involvement!

We LOVED it there.

If you go to High Hand - you can plan on spending a lot of time there.


High Hand offers the Nursery (from their web site): "High Hand Nursery offers a unique shopping experience. Tour our greenhouse, the home of High Hand grown plants. Unwind in a world of unusual plants, pottery and inspiring garden art. Relax next to the koi ponds and wander through uniquely landscaped venues.  High Hand Nursery also offers a full range of landscape services. 

The Conservatory: "Purveyors of hand grown, hand crafted cuisine, the conservatory offers brunch, lunch and dinner derived from the finest flavors Placer County offers, including fresh grown produce from our own garden. Located on the grounds of the historic High Hand fruit sheds, this inspired conservatory offers a unique dining experience." 

The Fruit Sheds - from the art gallery to the candle shop...there are plenty of places to explore and shop!

Here are some pictures from our adventure!

The High Hand Fine Art Gallery is operated & supported by a collaborative of professional visual artists. As usual, I do not take photos of art work! There are some beautiful pieces in there!
The room that fills up with rows of artists working and displaying their work during Art Fest!

I'm a sucker for old sewing machines!

An old couch! A real fixer-upper!

The Vintage Bricoleur was a neat store!
 
I had a half order of the chicken salad sandwich with zucchini salad! Delishesness...and a half order was plenty of food...Josh had a half order of the hot pastrami sandwich, but ate it before I could take a picture! :)

We shared dessert. Blackberry and lemon cobbler with ice cream.

All gone!

The view from our table!

Koi pond! Friendly little guys.

Places to sit and relax.

View while relaxing!

I climbed to the little "island" and caught Josh communing with the koi!

Gorgeous nursery!









Definitely worth a trip. Whether it is just for spending the day in this gorgeous place, OR to check out an event (Like Art Fest!!).

Two Thumbs Up with a big grin! :D

for more info on High Hand, click here.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Rehab

Sometimes when all is said and done, it has to be re-done.
Like this druzy. She needed some work.

I loved the piece, but I think that her little "kick" there on the right seemed not right to many people. I've hung on to that "kick" for several years... ARTIST'S CHOICE!!! I have this thing for not quite making things symmetrical.

However, after all these years I took another look at her and yes, the "kick" bothered me...

Black Druzy with fused silver and gold. With a kick.

I took another look at the design...blocking out the playful "kick"...

Better...nice balance!

I gathered up my tools...from my super-sonic Walmart glasses for magnification...and other traditional smithing tools...


Marked the piece with the Sharpie and used the jeweler's saw to take out the "kick..."

ahhh...a better balance, a piece of fused silver with a rose gold granulation ball...and files.

Some buffing, polishing and a nice warm bath in soapy water (best way to clean a druzy...)

and here she is....

Black druzy with stering and fine silver. Two rose-gold granulation balls.

I'm very happy with the results. She will be making her re-debut at High Hand's Art Fest June 23 & 24, 2012!