tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24447629694674504892024-03-13T09:06:12.704-07:00Blue FinchCreating Beautiful Things...Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-20882436835259815622016-01-28T12:13:00.000-08:002016-01-28T12:13:26.712-08:00I've Moved to A New BlogHello old friends! I've decided to move this blog over to a new place and a new website! I've also changed the name too so that I can expand my creative wings and everything will fit all nice and tidy into one place. Please join me over on my new site and follow me there! Click <a href="http://www.circusmeetsboardroom.com/">HERE</a> to grab your ticket to my next show over at Circus Meets Boardroom! See you soon! <br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">XO, Rachel</span></i></b><br />
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<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-73531103459456210792015-03-13T08:25:00.001-07:002015-03-13T10:11:48.603-07:00Inspired by Reading Book Club: Geek LoveThis month's selection was Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, and boy was it a great read!<br />
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I only post this cover because there are several ones out there, and let me say, it does make a difference as to orientation. Let me explain. Normally when I start a book I usually don't read the back covers or synopsis so as not to be biased. But girl, let me tell you, I <b>DO</b> judge a cover! And there will be no apologies here for that! So when I picked this one up, I was thinking that this was going to be some hot and steamy, 50 shades of Geek Squad, (as in Best Buy techie help) trash novel. Yeah...NOT! I had to literally read the first page five times because I was soooo confused! Finally, I had to break my own rule and read the back cover just so it made sense! Did you know that a Geek is not someone who routinely helps computer illiterate 40 somethings (and I'm referring to personal experience here) with their (so simple that a five year old could operate it) gadgets, but is actually the title given to someone who bites the heads off of live chickens? LIVE CHICKENS! And let me tell you, this is only the beginning of this crazy, wonderful read! At times I found myself saying "Oh no they aren't.." only to be followed by "OMG they did"! It has been a long time since I have read something this imaginative with such great character development. And yet at the same time, if you grew up in the evangelical South like I did, it is still very believable. During the summer months growing up I can remember seeing the revival tents springing up and thinking that the circus was in town! Same type of big tents, same time of year, same large crowds, and usually the smell of BBQ at both places. See how confusing this might be to a child? Hell, it's still confusing as an adult! Although I can say now that it's usually the age of the crowd that helps you decide which is which. And have you ever been too polite to say no and had to make good on your promise to attend your boss's/coworker/rotary club member/spouse's boss/friend's church service on the <b><i>first</i></b> Sunday of the month? Well, let me tell you, <i><b>that</b></i><i><b> in itself</b> </i>is a circus midway game! Step right up ladies! Roll the dice! Say "no thanks" to that invitation and you will either be a social pariah or treated to a wonderfully exciting snake handling service! Now which will it be? Make sure you blow on the dice for good luck before you roll! And have you ever attended said rural church service only to be lulled into thinking it was going to be just your average "go out into the world and do good" service by the nice welcoming congregation? Only to be fooled once the doors shut for the service to begin, by a whole <i>other</i> congregation leaping into action? Then you look over to your spouse, who is also trying to fake smile their way out of terror, to see if they have counted the pews to the nearest exit. And then you turn to your "friend" that invited you there in the first place, and look her right in the eye and give her that "thank you for inviting me" polite smile, and at the same time you <b><i>think</i></b> REALLY LOUDLY "if there are going to be snakes involved and you knew that, and if you failed to tell me such snakes would be involved because you knew I'd politely decline your invitation, well, there are going to be problems between us right after this service!" But then<b> three hours</b> into said service, you are like "bring out the snakes!" because at this point you are just waiting to see if anybody gets bitten and how the congregation will react. You want to see a SHOW! You want to see a test of faith in ACTION! You want a ticket to that CIRCUS!<br />
Well go read Geek Love, because it is all that and a few more layers too.<br />
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I started to make a charm bracelet with some beads and polymer clay severed hands, but when I started my design all the red, white and blue beads, together with the hands, spoke more of Americana applause then the more sinister effect I was going for, so I stopped and just took a picture instead.<br />
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The next piece I created was in homage to Arturo and is a polymer clay torso that is painted with acrylics and inked as well. I chose the green and black colors to symbolize the gangrene that had to have been present in some followers! I added the yellow sari ribbon because it reminded me of the bandages of those patients. Can you image the smell of that midway? The hand tattoo was added to symbolize the stages of faith-starting with the digits and ending with just a torso. And just to follow up on the symbolism, I put the piece on an actual cutting board to shoot it. </div>
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And then I decided to create a resin pendant to showcase the whole book. The back image is a ticket to a circus, complete with a freak show advertisement! </div>
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I hope you will join this incredible group! You can find all the other participants <a href="http://www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>!</div>
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Until Next Time....<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">be the star in your circus!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rachel</span></div>
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<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-74313581819767661592015-01-28T21:39:00.000-08:002015-01-28T21:40:50.858-08:00Inspired by Reading: Into the WildIt's been a few months since I have posted anything on my blog and more than that since I have participated in this wonderful book club. It is good to be back to both! This month's selection was <u>Into The Wild </u>by Jon Krakauer. This engrossing narrative is the epic story of one charismatic Christopher Johnson McCandless. He was well educated. He was well read. He was engaging, and made friends wherever he went. He was adventurous. He had a deep stubborn streak. He was a romantic. He was spoiled. And yet despite all of this, he was lost in <i>soooo </i>many ways.<br />
The hardest part of the book to read for me was the epilogue. I'm glad there was nobody in the customer waiting area of the car dealership that day I was reading and trying really hard not to break into an all out sob! There are no words to describe the pain his parents must have felt to see his things still sitting in that bus just as he had left them. To know that their child starved to death. To know that he felt like he couldn't or didn't want them in his life. To know he needed help and nobody was there for him. To know that they had failed him.<br />
I feel for the Alexander Supertramps that are trekking through our great country even as we speak. I'm sure you won't have to go far to find one either, as there are millions of children out there seeking a safe place to sleep and something to eat on any given night.<br />
I decided to create a piece that would reflect the many stages of his struggle and also incorporate the different textural elements that seem so prevalent in the book.<br />
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I created the clasp and center piece out of polymer clay. The toggle clasp is textured and painted to resemble fire wood. The stones at the top are actually amber nuggets which for me conjure up both sap<i> and </i>evergreens for some reason! I really wanted to use some leather in this piece because I was so fascinated by the story of Chris' belt. I actually went to some thrift stores looking for an engraved belt to use in place of this suede/ faux leather, but was unsuccessful in my quest. The main polymer piece represents the snow and ice and the rough terrain, and I knew I wanted it to be both deeply textured and asymmetrical. </div>
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Next, I wanted to represent the physical life of both Chris, and the animals he had to kill to survive. I crafted a cage out of wire and wrapped a thin piece of transparent polymer clay around it and then inked it to give it a worn look. You can see the cage through the clay, almost like skin stretched over the ribs of a starving human or a decaying carcass. Coming out of the cage are a number of symbolic items. The resin paper represents the graffiti and journals Chris kept. The .22 caliber bullet casing represents his having to resort to hunting game and his emotional struggle in doing so. The yellow enameled bead reminded me of his trusty Datsun. The river rock is worn smooth by the raging waters as I am sure were the rocks of the rivers he had to cross. The coyote tooth-well they are the same everywhere I suppose. And the silky blue sari ribbon I imagine has very much the same texture as everyone's favorite childhood adventure sleeping bag....</div>
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Please check out the other participants' blogs! They can be found<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><a href="http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HERE</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span>You can also join us in this fabulous book club too! The books are great, the creations are beautiful and the tribe is welcoming! </div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time....Call Your Parents!</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Rachel</span></i></b></div>
<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-34549274928054035082014-06-27T21:15:00.000-07:002014-06-27T21:15:07.253-07:00Shredded BroochA few months ago my best art friend, <span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.pattiedmon.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Patti</span></a>,</span> and I went on a road trip to Saluda, North Carolina to the most amazing art destination EVER! If you are any kind of creative at all (and who isn't?) you should by all means put <a href="http://www.randomartsnow.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">RANDOM ARTS</span></a> on your bucket list! The owner, Jane Powell, stocks the shop with all kinds of wonderfulness, and she offers lots of really great workshops too. Patti and I went to spend three blissful days creating and learning from <i>the<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></i><a href="http://www.thealteredpage.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Seth Apter</span></a>!<br />
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If you've been a member of my nest for very long, you know that I am a jewelry artist that likes to take elements from other art arenas and mix it in with my creations. I may create a small collage from paper, ink up some polymer clay, stamp or paint some fabric...but a canvas girl, I am not. Don't get me wrong, I love mixed media, it's just that I had no idea where to even begin with a canvas or sheet of paper! Not to mention the plethora of paint types and brushes and paint additives! Wtf does one do with glazing medium, gesso, or matte fluid medium anyway? Now take all of this, combined with the fact that even my stick people look like they have a few chromosomes missing, and you can see where this is going. So when my very talented painter/mixed media friend, Patti, suggested we go to a three day workshop with Seth Apter, how could I refuse?! I've never backed down from a challenge yet, so why start now, right? So supply list in hand and over fifty phone consultations later (Patti finally started saying "don't worry I have that too...") we packed up our stashes and headed to Saluda! </div>
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And that's when the magic started...</div>
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First let me say that Seth is a <b>wonderful</b> teacher! He discussed all of the different products and explained how they are made and how they react with each other. I now know what to do with glazing medium, and <i>girrrl</i>...well, you're just gonna have to find out for yourself! Then he walked us through his techniques and gave us some great tips on how to create textures within our pieces. And most importantly he showed this non-canvas girl that she <i>could</i> create a real, honest to goodness piece of art that she would <i>want </i>to hang on her wall! </div>
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The first workshop was called Shredded Silhouette and this is the piece that I made.</div>
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I won't go into the multiple steps it took to create the whole piece, but you can go <a href="http://www.thealteredpage.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">HERE</span></a> to check out his workshop schedule and gather some goodness for yourself! Now riding home on the high that one gets while <i>away from home </i>communing with other creatives, and not to mention all the wonderful things the good doctor says about you and your artwork (which by the way is another added benefit, and he says really nice things about<b> all </b>of his students) I decided to take my new found knowledge and apply it to making jewelry! The finished brooch measures 2" across. </div>
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<b>Shredded Impressionism</b></div>
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<b>Tiny masterpieces</b></div>
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<b>Half baked</b></div>
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<b>Wearable Mixed Media!</b></div>
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So thanks to Random Arts, Seth Apter, Patti Edmon, and the other wildly talented artists there too, I now understand the excitement of Golden and can't wait to try fiber paste and glass beads (and no I'm not talking about lampwork!) And if you are reading this and have no clue what I'm talking about then let me encourage you try something new!<br />
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Until next time.<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">..Leave Your Nest!</span></i></b></div>
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<i><b>Rachel</b></i></div>
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<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-22771758820407223362014-05-10T03:46:00.000-07:002014-05-10T03:51:24.155-07:00Soup Is Served!I have had the great pleasure of taking part in the 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by the amazing<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lori Anderson</span></a>!</span> </span>My very generous and talented partner,<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> Rana Wilson </span>sent me the fabulous soup below! Yummy!<br />
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We had to use the focal bead and the clasp in our piece, and I chose to use most of the rest of the beads she sent too! Aren't these colors <b>beautiful</b>! I decided to do something asymmetrical so that I could work the lampwork focal into the necklace and have it hang correctly. My first thought was to use it as a focal tassel of sorts, with strands of small seed beads coming out of it. However, it is drilled so small that would have been impossible. I think this turned out better anyway!<br />
I love the texture on this toggle clasp! I think the weight of it balances out the focal quite nicely.<br />
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Please hop over to see what Rana created with the soup that I sent to her, and then I</div>
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hope you will hop on over <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2014/05/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HERE</span></a> to see what everyone else has created! </div>
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Until next time,<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> create something beautiful!</span></i></b></div>
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<i>Rachel</i></div>
<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-47714798763404825742014-04-30T15:57:00.000-07:002014-04-30T15:57:55.413-07:00Inspired by Reading Book Club-Interpreter of MaladiesThis month's book selection was <u>Interpreter of Maladies</u> by Jhumpa Lahiri. It is a beautifully written book of short stories illustrating the many emotional and physical journeys of her characters as they deal with different types of loss. Lahiri does a wonderful job of pulling the reader inside the stories with her use of lush details and creating an overpowering feeling of empathy. Unlike other books we have read, no one particular story or character spoke to me to create around. I did however, finish the book overloaded with sensory details. The beautiful colors of the saris, the slick feel of fish, the smell and sounds of hot and crowded Indian streets, the taste of curry, and the overwhelming sense of the loss of the familiar, all came together in this mixed media piece that I created.<br />
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If you want more information about this book club, click <a href="http://www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HERE</span></a> and our host, Andrew Thornton, will be glad to give you our book list. Please check out what the other, very talented participants created.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jenny Davies-Reazor</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sarajo Wentling</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jeanne Steck</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mary Harding</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Karin Grange</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ann Schroeder</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.mkaymac.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mary K. McGraw</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://storiestheytell.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Christine Damm</span></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Andrew Thornton, Laurel Ross, Alison Herrington, Terri Greenawalt and Karen Hiatt</span></a></div>
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Until next time, <b><i>CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL</i></b>!</div>
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<i>Rachel</i></div>
Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-38011965674269300402014-04-02T09:32:00.000-07:002014-04-02T09:32:19.503-07:00Inspired by Reading Book ClubThis month's selection was An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor. It is a charming, easy read filled with wonderful characters! The story, set in the quaint Ireland village of Ballybucklebo, centers around the internship of Dr. Barry Laverty with the town's seasoned general practitioner, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly. Throughout the book, Dr. O'Reilly teaches Dr. Laverty that one has to use a variety of ways to treat not only the patient, but the community as well! By the end of the book the two are settling into a very good routine and we see that Dr. Laverty is well on his way to practicing the art of medicine! I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see how he continues to progress, and of course to keep up with all the other characters as well!<br />
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This book is so full of inspirational characters and settings that I had a hard time choosing one to focus on! I decided to create around my favorite supporting character, Miss Maggie. She is elderly, eccentric and wise, and maybe suffers a touch of dementia. I can just see her sitting outside in her garden, sipping tea, wearing multiple cardigans and petting her cat! I found these felt balls and immediately thought of those cardigans and so I had to turn them into beads! The multicolored glass beads remind me of her flowers. I used the leaves because they remind me of her strong tea, probably made from dandelion leaves at times! The yellow beads are for General, her cat. </div>
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I hope you will take time to see what the other participants have created! Click<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <a href="http://www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> </span>and you can get the other links from our fabulous host, Andrew Thornton!</div>
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Until next time...<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Read a book!</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Rachel</span></i></div>
<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-1702804845086170402014-03-20T16:35:00.000-07:002014-03-20T16:35:01.969-07:00Simmering Soup!I am so excited to be participating in the 8th<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><a href="http://www.beadsoupblogparty.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Bead Soup Blog Party</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;">! </span>I just received my <i>amazing</i> soup from my very talented and generous partner, Rana. Click<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <a href="http://www.ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></a> </span>to see more of her fabulous work!<br />
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This is the focal bead she sent! Isn't it beautiful!</div>
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And check out this fantastic soup! It is just brimming with possibilities, don't you think? I cannot wait to start working on my creation(s)! Stay tuned to see how this soup turns out...<br />
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Until next time, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Create Something Beautiful!</b></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rachel</span></i>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-10146841246868629992014-03-04T17:44:00.001-08:002014-03-05T15:34:37.013-08:00Got Books? Got Beads? Inspired by Reading Book Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let me begin this post by telling you how excited I am to be taking part in <a href="http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Andrew Thornton's Inspired by Reading Book Club</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;">!</span> While the concept is simple, the book selections are anything but that. And this is why, after reading the list of books he selected, I knew I had to be a part of this!<br />
February's selection is a collection of short stores by Italo Calvino. I must admit that for a minute there, I wasn't really into it. A couple of the first stories I read were, shall I say, odd and depressing. But when I found myself thinking about a particular depressing story two days after I had read it, I knew he had done his job as a storyteller. You see, in just a couple of pages his intense character development, tone, plot and imagery will have you thinking about his stories and their outcomes for days. In this book Calvino transports you from the beautiful, innocent fantasy world to the ugly, wartime world and then back to the ordinary world of everyday schlepping, and you go eagerly because you have empathy for the characters. Whether he delights, shocks or saddens us, Calvino does a great job of showing us the many difficult, and sometimes nitty-gritty sides of love. <br />
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I chose this short story to work with because it spoke to me so loudly on so many levels. How so, you ask? Well, maybe its because I am in my 40's and surrounded by selfie taking tweens and I just don't understand this whole FB/Instagram/put all my business out there world, hard as I might try. Maybe its because I grew up in a house with so many paintings on the walls there wasn't any room for photographs. Maybe because my parents were too busy coaching our teams and holding our horses for tack changes that we (my brother and I) were hardly ever photographed at whatever we were busy doing. I've always <b><i>lived</i></b> in the moment, or tried to. But enough of that already. You came to see my creations. So I hope you enjoy my slightly altered pics that my very talented daughter took. I am, by admission, too chicken to pick up the camera because I know all to well where that new obsession will lead....<br />
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Want more eye candy? Well, here are my fellow participants' blogs. Please show some love and go check them out too!<br />
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<a href="http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Jeanne Steck</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Mary Harding</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Ann Schroeder</a></div>
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<a href="http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Andrew Thornton, Laurel Ross, Alison Smith, Terri Greenawalt</a></div>
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<i>Until next time<span style="font-size: large;">...</span></i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Check out this great book club!</span></b></div>
<i><b>Rachel</b></i>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-76225330876890889972014-02-13T22:22:00.000-08:002014-02-13T22:22:50.123-08:00After They've Seen Paree...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How will you keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paree? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Valentine's Day! </span></div>
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For Christmas this year I ordered myself 50 pounds of luscious earthenware clay with the hopes of making lots of beads. I lugged that clay into my studio, tore open the box and quickly sliced into the slick, gray clay. The smell of wet leaves and fertile earth drifted into the air, and I was immediately transported into summer. The feel of the cold, damp clay on my hands reminded me of the thick, strong earthworms that I usually find while gardening. I was giddy with the endless possibilities that I would create!</div>
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Then reality hit. I used to work with clay a lot. I had wheels and kilns and glazes and TIME. You see, I like the <i>idea </i>of earthenware clay, but it requires lots and lots of time. You condition the clay, then create the piece, then let the piece dry for a few days, then fire it for a few hours, let it cool for another day, then glaze it, then fire it again for another few hours and let it cool for another day, then you open the kiln and... It's like Christmas! Magical! Unfortunately, my life is not conducive to earthenware clay at this time, so I boxed it back up and looked for an alternative magical fix.</div>
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I have never been a fan of polymer clay. It's just too polymery (yes, I just made that word up!) for a clay snob such as myself. However, a few years ago I met a fellow bead artist that was a member of my <a href="http://www.bhambeads.com/">bead society</a>, and he reintroduced polymer clay to me with his beautiful beads. After researching polymer, and discovering the new clays and techniques and brilliant artists that work with it, I decided that polymer might not be so bad after all. So jonesing for clay, I went and bought a few bricks of polymer clay and got busy creating beads! And boy, am I hooked! This stuff is incredible! It's easy to work with, fires in a simple oven in less than 30 minutes, and can be painted with almost anything! It fits right into my mixed media studio and I couldn't be happier! The possibilities are endless and it is readily available, even in this one horse town I am currently living in. </div>
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Here are three heart beads that I made using various stamps and tools to create texture. </div>
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Here are the same beads that I colored using alcohol inks, crackle paint and rub and buff product</div>
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Then I had to dig through my packed up studio boxes to find some beads and findings so that I could turn them into jewelry. </div>
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Here are the finished pieces. I also made the beads that match the large polymer pendant and I made the clasps for both pieces as well.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think I've seen Paree now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time..<b><i>.I hope you get off your farm too!</i></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Rachel</span></i></div>
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Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-30605754616986826392014-01-24T19:20:00.000-08:002014-01-24T19:20:41.653-08:00Grow Your Blog!Welcome to the 2014 Grow Your Blog Party hosted by Vicki at the beautiful blog, 2 Bags Full! There are around 600 blogs joining in the fun this year and I am so looking forward to meeting new friends and viewing all the fantastic blogs!<br />
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The name of my business and blog is Blue Finch, and I'm sorry to say that if you came here looking for a bird blog, then you are out of luck! Several people did that last year and we both got a good laugh out of it! While I do love all things bird (hence the name), I just don't blog about them! However, I <i><b>do</b></i> like to refer to my blog as "The Nest".<br />
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I am a mixed media jewelry artist who primarily creates jewelry. This means that some days I cannot decide between watercolors and glitter glue, so I usually use both! Most days I create jewelry or jewelry components, but some days I create on canvas or work on sculpture. Some days I mess around with Resistance, and don't create shit, but more on that later...<br />
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One day my daughter, Beautiful Creature Numero Uno, and I were discussing blogging. We talked about the kinds of things people like to see and read about, and she said "Mom, I think people would want to know what goes on behind the beads." So out of the mouth of my own baby bird came the focus of my blog. I hope to give you some glimpses behind the beads into the beautiful life I am creating. As we all are....<br />
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Until next time...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome to The Nest!</b></span><br />
<i>Rachel</i>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-83034175784682436502014-01-10T20:13:00.000-08:002014-01-27T16:30:22.718-08:00Traveling By Map!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back to the Nest! Where has the time gone? Shortly after my last post, my husband and I decided to take on a new adventure. He took a 6 month sabbatical and we decided to change our course. We are leaving West Tennessee for the beautiful mountains of western Maryland! We are very excited about all the new beginnings and opportunities that await us! I guess I have probably logged at least twenty thousand miles on my car in the last six months. I could probably drive I81 in my sleep, including cautiously through Virginia! So between looking for housing there and trying to sell the house here, checking out schools, getting my husband settled in Maryland, and running the beautiful creatures to all their activities here, and let's not forget checking out all the art supply stores and bead shops in between, I have been very busy! Aren't you tired from just reading that last, very long, probably grammatically incorrect sentence! Whew! I am....<br />
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Although all of my beads are packed up, my mixed media stash is still accessible! Speaking of which, I have had the real honor and privilege of having one of my mixed media pieces selected to be published in <a href="http://www.lesleyriley.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Lesley Riley's</span></a> latest book!<br />
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If you are not familiar with Lesley, then please check out her website! She is a fabulous artist, product developer, author, teacher, coach, mentor, and friend....you will not be disappointed!<br />
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So Nest, although it's been a crazy half year, a new one is upon us, and I have a whole list of things to accomplish in 2014! I hope you will join me!<br />
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Until Next time, <b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>crea</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>te your own beautiful adventure!</i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-68997533949338376812013-04-02T07:57:00.000-07:002013-04-02T07:57:40.913-07:00On Their Way!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After battling resin issues and hundreds of wrapped loops, the earrings are <b>finally</b> on their way! Thank you all for being so patient! I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed all of your comments and page views on my blog! <br />
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I wanted to say thank you to <a href="http://www.betty-thewoodfairy.blogspot.com/">Betty</a>, my new blog buddy from the UK, for this exquisite silk sachet! Click on her name to view her blog and see more of her beautiful hand painted silk creations. Her work is amazing!<br />
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Until next time...<b><span style="font-size: large;">Create Something Beautiful!</span></b><br />
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<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-63922175116495029962013-02-21T12:26:00.000-08:002013-02-21T12:26:41.842-08:00Production Started!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to say<span style="font-size: large;"><b> thank you</b></span> to all the beautiful and generous women who have viewed, left comments, and followed my blog over the past few weeks! What an amazing response to the <a href="http://www.vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/">Grow Your Blog Party</a>! I still haven't made my way through the whole list of blogs yet! As promised, I am sending each of my new friends a pair of earrings! I have just started production on them and will hopefully have them shipped by next week!<br />
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Check out these gorgeous earrings! They were made by my new friend, <a href="http://www.beadandneedle.blogspot.com/">Tanya</a>, who writes an equally gorgeous blog titled, BeadandNeedle. She was very generous and offered me an earring exchange, and boy did I ever get lucky! I am just awed by the wonderful, creative people that have crossed my path in the past few months. All is good....<br />
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Until next time,<span style="font-size: large;"><b> create something beautiful!</b></span><br />
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<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-23193281857640192742013-01-18T17:24:00.000-08:002013-01-19T13:37:09.031-08:00Join The Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to the Grow Your Blog party created by the beautiful blog, <a href="http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/">2 Bags Full</a>! I am so excited to be taking part in this wonderful adventure! I cannot wait to meet, greet and follow more blogs, and hopefully gain some new followers and friends of my own blog! I am a mixed media jewelry artist who is new to blogging, hence why this badge is in my actual post and not on the side. I haven't figured out how to get it there and not mess up the rest of my sidebar! My blog is a "behind the beads" peek at all the wonderful things going on in my world. Of course, not<i> everything</i> is wonderful, but then nobody wants to read about that. The rest, I plan to glaze over with humor! Seriously, I hope you will join me on this journey and I hope you enjoy my blog! I will keep this post nice and short, as I know you have a lot of blog hopping to do. However, to sweeten the pot, if you follow, comment or email me (tab on the sidebar) before February 1st, then I will send you a pair of earrings! Welcome to Blue Finch!<br />
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Until next time,<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I hope you grow your blog too!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-26641606976360871702013-01-16T12:01:00.000-08:002013-01-16T12:01:19.590-08:00Thanking my Tribe<br />
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In keeping with my NewYear's resolution of making this a "year of doing", I wanted to take a few minutes to say thank you to my ever supportive tribe, <a href="http://www.bhambeads.com/">The Greater Birmingham Bead Society</a>. When my friend and I started this a few years ago, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would get out of it way more than all the hours I spent putting into it. What started out as a way to just provide an outlet for education and networking among like minded folks, turned out to be in many ways, a life changing catalyst. I've met beautiful, talented people from all walks of life. I've witnessed beginning beaders and seasoned artists bring their own unique talents to the table and create something new and exciting. We've pushed each other to be better artists, take on new challenges and expand our visions. We've supported each other through illness, failure and loss, and celebrated our success and growth. Through it all, this wonderful tribe of mine has encouraged me to become a better artist and on many levels, a better person. They have patiently listened while I've given presentations. They have attended my workshops to give me some much needed teaching experience. They've given me great encouragement and when needed, constructive criticism. And they have given me so much more. The two simple words "thank you" will never be enough, or convey what I really want to say, but I hope my tribe, my GBBS family, knows this.<br />
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Until next time, <b><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you find your tribe...</span></b>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-89076684404923735542012-11-09T19:56:00.000-08:002012-11-09T19:56:47.763-08:00Snow globes and Easter eggs<br />
Back to work in the studio...<br />
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I have always been fascinated with collages and snow globes and sugar carved Easter eggs, and all things miniature, for as long as I can remember. I love the layers of fabrics, paints, textures, images and colors. I love the attention to small details, the hidden meanings, the voyeurism, and the<i> movement. </i><br />
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Take for example, the sugar Easter eggs. Now, while I prefer the classic white ones, they all fascinate me. I love to peer inside at the pastel scenes of frolicking rabbits, crystal fluffy chicks, and Easter baskets. The big ones are great, but if I happen to find the small ones, where all those scenes are stuffed into smaller compartments, then I have hit the jackpot! Now, while I <i>know </i>how they are constructed, I like to block that out and pretend they just magically happen...<br />
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Who can resist picking up and shaking a snow globe with all those miniature scenes and glitter and "snow" swirling around? One good shake and you can control the weather! Ah the power!<br />
Just the other day, beautiful creature numero uno and I were looking at the sky, and she remarked on the way it felt like we were in one giant IMAX theater. The sky really looked like a dome above us. Sometimes I wonder if maybe we are in one giant snow globe...<br />
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Now, don't get me started on a well built, fully furnished doll house. Every time I see a great one it makes me wish I could shrink down and wander around inside. Where else but in this voyeuristic situation can I live in ten furnished, accessorized to the max, sparkly clean rooms? I wonder what it is like to sleep in a floor to ceiling floral wallpaper bedroom, eat off of tiny Blue Willow china plates then retire to read in a Biltmore like living room, complete with roaring fireplace. Don't you?<br />
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Collages hold even more allure for me. I love how the layers of paints, papers, textures, and colors reveal themselves. I love how the partially hidden words, barely visible photographs and layers of products lend themselves to new study every time you look at the work. Collages are fluid and even the meaning of the work can change depending on the viewer.<br />
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I have been working on creating art that can combine my love for all things layered, and miniature and complex. I have been creating a series of pendants that combine paper, seed beads, sticks, fabrics, metal objects and resin. I am very excited about these collage pieces and the stories they tell, and they will be listed on my website for purchase.<br />
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Until next time,<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> create something beautiful!</span></i></b><br />
<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-16758699639039302342012-10-10T11:39:00.000-07:002012-10-10T11:39:03.874-07:00Autumn Bounty<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome Fall!<br />
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"I'd rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion"-Thoreau<br />
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Until next time, <b>enjoy the harvest.....</b></div>
<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-71398155253679633062012-09-05T07:22:00.000-07:002012-09-06T08:50:03.042-07:00Yes Ma'am!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What Do Women Want?</div>
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I want a red dress.</div>
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I want it flimsy and cheap,</div>
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I want it too tight, I want to wear it</div>
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until someone tears it off me.</div>
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I want it sleeveless and backless, </div>
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this dress, so no one has to guess</div>
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what's underneath. I want to walk down</div>
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the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store</div>
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with all those keys glittering in the window, </div>
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past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old</div>
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donuts in their cafe, past the Guerra brothers</div>
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slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly, </div>
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hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders. </div>
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I want to walk like I'm the only</div>
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woman on earth and I can have my pick.</div>
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I want that red dress bad. </div>
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I want it to confirm</div>
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your worst fears about me, </div>
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to show you how little I care about you </div>
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or anything except what </div>
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I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment</div>
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from its hanger like I'm choosing a body</div>
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to carry me into this world, through</div>
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the birth-cries and the love-cries too, </div>
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and I'll wear it like bones, like skin, </div>
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it'll be the goddamned</div>
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dress they bury me in. </div>
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-Kim Addonizio</div>
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Until next time,<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>I hope you find your red dress!</b></span></div>
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<br />Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-23336981363772489212012-08-28T10:13:00.000-07:002012-08-28T10:16:06.963-07:00Family Secret<i><b>" The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future." -Charles and Ann Morse</b></i><br />
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Have you seen the quote about being the type of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning the devil says "Damn! She's up!"? Well, my grandmother is that woman! At 81 she walks several miles a day, paints her own toes bright red, keeps her hair blonde and has a fantastic figure! She keeps a house so clean, that for 40 years, I have been trying to find evidence that my grandparents <i>actually do live</i> in the house. At Christmas she adopts a whole tree of angels and sets out to spoil each one as if they were her own grandchildren. She is a dyed-in-the-wool democrat, a sage advice giver and a fierce protector. She is the salt of the earth, and she has been cooking too much for supper for as long as I can remember. <br />
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She makes the best cathead biscuits I have ever had the privilege to eat. If you are reading this, and do not know what a cathead is, then all I can say is bless your heart. Some things you cannot google. For those of you that <i>do</i> know, I will <i>not</i> be sharing that recipe with you, because some things are truly family secrets! However, she also makes fantastic oatmeal raisin cookies and I will share that recipe.<br />
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<b>1 1/4 cups plain flour</b></div>
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<b>1 tablespoon baking soda</b></div>
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<b>1 cup melted butter</b></div>
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<b>1 1/4 cups white sugar</b></div>
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<b>1 cup brown sugar</b></div>
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<b>2 eggs</b></div>
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<b>3 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal</b></div>
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<b>1 package vanilla instant pudding</b></div>
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<b>1 cup raisins</b></div>
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter and sugar together. Add eggs and pudding. Mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.<br />
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I hope you enjoy them! Let me know how yours turn out!<br />
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Until next time, <b> I hope you are cooking too much for supper....</b>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-22255355399616903322012-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:002012-08-16T10:36:34.430-07:00Singing in the StudioWelcome to my studio! When we moved a couple of years ago, one of the requirements for our new house was that it had to have a "bead room" in addition to a guest room. Now if you don't suffer from the same addiction that I do, its kinda hard to explain to a realtor what<i> exactly</i> it is you mean when you say that you have a lot of beads and need space to house them. I tried saying that I needed "studio space" but that seemed to imply I needed space for an easel and some canvas to paint. I didn't need a corner of a room, I needed a whole room! We would go look at houses and my two beautiful creatures would get all excited and pick out which room would be theirs, and then they would stop and ask "Where would the beads go?" My husband would house hunt on his own and come home and report "I found a great house, except there is no bead room." The Realtors would ask if I could use a closet or small office space. Before I could answer, beautiful creature numero uno would just burst out in this sarcastic laugh and say "you haven't seen the beads!" The "beads"and all that goes with them, have become a collective entity all to itself.<br />
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I am very blessed to have a family that supports and encourages my art. My kids and husband patiently attend bead shows without complaining. In exchange for video games, skateboards, camera fund money, and anything else I can think of to bribe them with, the kids will sort, count and photograph the beads for my inventory system. My husband, parents, in-laws, and occasionally my husband's office staff, hold down the fort when I am traveling for bead related events. It seems it does take a village, and for that I am grateful.<br />
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This is my creative space. Cluttered. Organized. Stimulating. Beautiful. A place where I can create and dream. To just be. This is my place to sing, if you will. Since this picture was taken I have replaced the small fish tank with a larger one on another shelf, out of view. It has the constant sound of bubbling water that I find very soothing. I also have a great sound system, wonderfully scented candles, a huge chocolate stash, an occasional snoring dog and absolutely <i><b>no</b> <b>rules!</b></i><br />
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Until next time...as my favorite artist, Picasso, once said <b>"To draw, you must close your eyes and sing." I hope this finds you singing...</b>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444762969467450489.post-24785559653394783212012-08-07T08:01:00.000-07:002012-08-16T07:13:19.256-07:00Welcome to Blue Finch<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must admit that I am both excited and nervous about launching this blog. This whole voyeuristic blog thing reminds me of skinny dipping. Exhilarating yet scary, and at the same time liberating and most importantly, life altering. Now if you find yourself reading this and you've never been skinny dipping, then this is a must do for the old bucket list. Trust me. Just don't try it at your local pool! Or your neighbor's without permission...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee. Kingsport, to be exact. A culture rich with grand storytellers, great cooks, avid Vols fans and above all, Dolly Parton glamor! From a very early age, I was indoctrinated with the ideals that all creatures and nature are to be protected and cherished, that handmade is superior, and that the written word is invaluable. I hope to instill these same values in my children. Although I now live on the other side of the state, my family is still in the mountains. No matter where I live, it will always be home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What else should I divulge? Besides a jewelry artist, I am a mom to two beautiful muses. I love a great treasure hunt. I relish stimulating conversation, especially when paired with great food, and even better wine, or vodka, depending on the company. I am easily distracted by shiny things, and never met a horse I didn't like, or couldn't shoe. There is more to come, but for now, welcome to Blue Finch! I hope you will join me on this journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time, <i> <b>create something beautiful...</b></i></span>Bluefinch http://www.blogger.com/profile/15907692345452234906noreply@blogger.com0