And there he was! In all his Splendor!

Sometimes pleasant things happen for no reason.  I have been doing art journals for the past month and one of the things I have learned is to be aware of what is around me.   Today I was in the right place at the right time.

 I take my little dog Lucy for a walk a couple times a day and we often go the same route just down the street a block or two and back.  Look what I saw when I came back up my driveway!!  He looked like he demanded to be noticed and what a beauty he is!

This buck deer was standing in our neighbors yard just looking at me.   The funny thing is that Lucy didn't see him standing up on the ledge..... I never said a thing as I didn't want her to bark at him.  I didn't want him falling off the ledge or jumping off from fright!  Instead I put the dog in the house and got my camera.  He waited patiently for me to come back and then posed and continued eating.

 I find it easy to get complacent when I'm walking and not pay attention to what is around me.  So since I have been art journaling, I make a point to notice anything new in people's yards, the changing fall colors,  It is amazing what you see when you pay attention to even the smallest of details around you.    

 When we go for a walk by the ocean Lucy gets so excited because it is something different.  I think she loves to see ..... and smell... new things.  For sure, I love a change of scenery.  Who would not love the colors in the sky in the picture I took last night at about 6:00 pm walking on the beach.  I find having more awareness of my surroundings helps keep me grateful for what I have right now.  

What have you been noticing lately?

What Has Inspired Me Lately

Since I decided to extend my stay on Vancouver Island and not create jewelry for a while, I have been out and about finding some incredible things for myself.  I don't normally go hunting for jewelry but when I see talent in others - wow!  I just can't leave it.  Plus, I believe in Karma, I think what you do for others comes back to you 10 fold and even more.  So here is some of what I have been inspired by lately:

 I was in a quaint garden shop one day that is new to me and found some interesting metal stakes for my garden among a dozen other things!   Hanging in the window were beautiful hand made glass catchers.  These star fish caught my eye and I thought they would make a beautiful pendant perhaps with some bead weaving.  I love how the light reflects through them but when I downloaded them the picture turned for some reason - I can't figure out why?  Looks much better on the side...... oh well.

Simple adjustable cord necklace with handmade glass beads - beautiful colors!  Made by a local artist

Jane Perala Designs - she has amazing lampwork glass
and an etsy shop too

Lampwork Bead by Jane Perala Designs
The center of this looks like a cosmic swirl but the
picture doesn't pick that up so well. 

On our trip to Salt Spring Island, I picked this little frog bead up at the market there.  He is made by a talented husband and wife team that sells "cute glass" like this little frog.  Check him out at www.blingsquared.com  

Amanda Skalsi calls her Glass adornments "Fluidity Suspended"
She taught art for 3 years and her work is amazing so I couldn't resist this pendant.   I met Amanda at an Italian Restaurant.
She asked about a glass bead necklace I was wearing and then showed me her work.  I was wearing my favorite bead woven bracelet that I made and she admired it so I gave her my card.
I just love talking to other artists - don't you? 

Picked up this bracelet and anklet at the Salt Spring market.
I couldn't resist the beautiful red glass lampwork beads.You don't often see red this color so it really called to me.
  I bought 7 pieces from this guy for my grand kids and myself.  I have bought from him before and his work lasts for years.  I told him that and he gave me a discount for being a return customer.
I was so impressed!

Bracelet on the left is a Jane Perala bracelet
the other two bracelets were bought at the Salt Spring market.  
I have been on a red kick this summer. 

I have had a struggle getting back into making jewelry.  I am surrounded by tranquility and beauty and every day I feel my creative side re-appear but in a whole new way.  I started  making Art Journals.  Oh yes, a new creative outlet but since I used to do scrap booking, much of the supplies are similar (this is what I tell myself).  I am loving the artistic side of something completely different and mucking around with paint and papers and mixing various mediums together to create a beautiful page.  I've had a rest, now I need a change.....for awhile.

OK ... as far as jewelry goes...I feel that I want to pursue bead weaving because I have received a great deal of happiness from doing that.  I signed up today for a beadweaving course with Marcie Abney Carroll and am waiting to see if I am accepted.  Fingers crossed.