New Work: Progressions

I've begun a new series of mixed media bamboo bowl wall hangings. I'm calling them Progressions, and they're designed to hang alone or in groups. I've completed these two so far, shown on my chocolate brown kitchen wall.

I color-wash the 12-inch bamboo bowl, add hand-tinted watercolor paper strips, and position them in progressions of color under a polymer clay bar. Each clay bar is painted with iron oxide, then rubbed with PearlEx powders to give the luminous sheen of raku pottery.

This design came about only after throwing out a number of others....creativity eluded me late last month and briefly into this one. I wouldn't have ordinarily thought to throw out the unsuccessful ones, but my husband pointed out that keeping them would only frustrate me more, since I would look at them and see only what didn't work--not the best idea when trying to coax a creative spark into flame. He was right; as soon as I threw them away, I was able to clear my mind, and begin again. I also designed new, small clock...more on that, another day.

Happy 2009!

A new year, a new beginning. New hopes, new dreams, new goals. I've never been one for resolutions. It's always seemed to me an artificial way to live. Thinking about intentions for the year, and the various things I hope to achieve; that's more my style.

One ongoing goal has been to change my business name to better reflect what I do now. And, I'm happy to report that I've finally done it. The official unveiling of the new name and website will come shortly.

Meanwhile, what I received from 'Notes From The Universe' earlier this week was a wakeup call:

Michelle, it's easy.

Your thoughts become things. Don't fight it. Don't think there's anything else. Don't entertain the false premises of fate, luck, or a God who judges, withholds, or decides. You decide. You manifest. You rule. This is why you are here. This is what you came to discover. You were born to experience your absolute dominion over every flimsy, malleable illusion of time and space; to have, do, and be anything. Truthfully, it
couldn't be any easier. All you have to do is think of what you want and refuse to deviate from that thought. This will, invariably, set you into motion, stir up the magic, and unleash the full force, power, and majesty ofa Universe conspiring on your behalf. It's worth everything you've got, Michelle. Be strong, be vigilant, take action,
and the Kingdom of Heaven shall appear at your very feet.
I've got your back, The Universe

So, think great thoughts, make them manifest in your life, and have a happy, healthy, creative and prosperous New Year!