Valentines & Other News
It’s a sunny January 25 in Albuquerque and I’m off to meet my friends Kei & Molly of Kei & Molly Textiles for some tea and art-talk. Kei and Molly have put together a show this month featuring the work of Live Clay, Paper Turtle, and 9 more artists. The “Local Love Bazaar” will take place on Sunday, February 12 from 1-4, 5321 Acoma Rd SE. I’ll be selling ceramics as well as papier-mache, so if you’re in town, stop by and say hello! Here’s a studio shot of Kei & Molly’s beautiful, hand-printed tea towels and scarves (they do the designing and sewing, too).
I’ve never participated in a Valentine’s-themed show before, and usually avoid heart-y things because they tend to be… heart-y and sentimental and cliché. But I thought I should come up with something unique for this because, well, just because it’s 2012 and I’m daring to dream. So, here’s what I have in the works so far:
The Original Distorted Heart™ by Live Clay: The Tread-Upon (vehicle/athletic shoe/stiletto); The Torn; Torn and Mending; Warts and All; Regeneration; Curling In On Itself; and Absence Makes the Heart Grow Warp-y. As you might imagine, the possibilities are endless. These hearts were fun to make, and the titles are indicative how they were constructed, i.e., The Tread-Upon (vehicle) was run over with my truck, the Torn and Mending was torn and put back together, etc. Still thinking about how I will finish them (raku or electric fired? Colors? Wood-fired would be nice…), and I imagine some will be pendants while others will be magnets (gender-inclusive). If I’ve really got my act together, maybe I’ll come up with little descriptive cards for each.
Meanwhile, other studio things in progress are small (1″ x 1″) pendants.
I sold these in my Etsy store last year (or was it 2010?), but they’ve been out of stock for a while and a few people have requested. Last year, I also collaborated with the talented Barbara Jacobs of BMJNYC on oval pendants. As a sample, I made a cloud pendant, she created an amazing silver branch frame.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to pursue this exciting idea, but I hope to do so this year.
On the home front (which happens to be right next to my studio), new plans for this year include inviting my young and nimble-fingered nieces over more often to play “The Cleaning Games.” You’d be amazed at how three small girls with toothbrushes and a few sponges can whip a kitchen into shape. Anyone who knows me, knows that I can’t stand cleaning because a) It’s boring and I’m not very good at it b) I have no time and c) even if I did have time, I would choose traveling or gardening or putting a nail through my forehead over house cleaning.
The most appealing thing to me about cleaning is the book I’ve been compiling in my head for years entitled, That Comes Off?. It’s mostly a memoir-style collection of startling revelations that occurred when, during rare and fanatical house cleansings, some bit of color or texture that I had long-accepted as an intrinsic component of a thing… was revealed to actually be dirt/food/whatever.
Anyway, Cleaning Game challenges include The Vacuum Race, Ice Skating with Rags, and Baseboards Need Love Too. The girls (ages 7, 6, 4) can’t get enough of it. They compete for things like control of the spray bottle or the privilege of crawling all the way into a cabinet to clean the corners. I offer prizes, they beg to play. It’s a win-win for everyone.
And finally, the foodie in me is excited to share a new breakfast that both Isabella and I have been loving.
It’s composed of a couple spoons of Fage brand Total 0% Greek-style yogurt (the only fat-free yogurt that I think tastes good); a handful of blueberries; a scoop of Chia seeds; a little raw, unsweetened coconut; honey; and a side of walnuts (reportedly an excellent ‘brain food’, I need all the help I can get). It’s a great alternative to nutritionally void bagels or high-carb cereals, packing more than 20 grams of protein and a huge range of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants into one little dish. I’m trying the Chia seeds for the first time, after reading about them in Born To Run (excellent read, even if you’re not a runner) and a little research into the health benefits. You can find out more about this complex, ancient food here or googling for yourself.
Live Clay 
You should write a book! I want to go to the valentine show.
So glad you’ll be joining us for the Local Love Bazaar! You’re hearts are AMAZING!!!
Very artistic.
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback!
Beautiful stuff. I’ll give that breakfast bowl a try. Where are you getting blueberries now? I’ve got one for you too.
Thanks, Len! I just got a lovely full pint of organic blueberries on sale at Whole Boobs ($5.99). That was on the weekend, maybe they’re still there? It just depends. Sometimes Sunflower has them, too. Co Op always does but they’re $7 for 1/2 pt. You know how excited I get when you tell me that ‘you’ve got one for me too…’ Can’t wait. Can’t even imagine…
Girl, you’ve got so many irons in the fire, you make me tired. I used to be that way. Always juggling so many things. It makes life interesting.
Love your cleaning book idea and the way you inspire the kids to “enjoy” the process. It reminds me of a game I played with my mom as a young girl. She wake me in the morning for school and I’d race her, trying to get dressed in my uniform and make my bed before she had my oatmeal or cream of rice ready. Because it was a game, I never tired of it. You’re a smart mother.
Love the cloud pendant. You must pursue this because it’s really just stunning.
Anyway, reason for my comment is that I just figured out how this blogroll thingie works and I added your blog as a link on my blog. Hope that ‘s alright. Just want others to know how much I enjoy your writing and your art!
Thanks, Cristy. Thank you for the comments and adding me to your blog roll! That’s something I’m still grappling with. I’m on the way out the door right now, but will write more later.( I suppose I should put some clothes on, tho showing up at the high school entrance exam in my bathrobe is strangely tempting.) BTW, no peacock-feather cape pictures! I’ll put that on the list. Long list. So, what did you do when you had lots of irons in the fire? Why/how did that change? Just curious.
“Beautiful life” is right. I feel like I reside in a paper sack by the side of the road. (with cable.)
Oh, maybe that’s just the Demerol talking, Mike, don’t worry! Your funny life and writing are awesome. Looked for a Subscribe button but could not find… I’ll just have to be a daily visitor. Thank you for following!
Amazing work! So beautiful! I love collecting pottery so your work is amazing to me!!!
Thanks for the feedback, especially from a collector of pottery! Much appreciated. I wish there were more hours in a day because I can never seem to keep up with studio work. A good problem to have, I suppose 🙂
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