Mother S'kaana

    The Friends of Skamokawa have a wine tasting and auction every September. They maintain the Riverlife Interpretive Center http://redmenhall.blogspot.com/ . It's a spirited (sorry about the pun) event each year.
   The last several years I've donated stained glass and decided to try something new this year. I've been playing around with polymer clay, which is like playdough only more permanent.
    I wanted something to reflect the Northwest but with a shift. The first piece started out well, but began to lose definition as it progressed, and by the time it was done it resembled a badly done kindergarten project. I did like the little tiny whale embryo piece in her belly, but the rest looked like a bad night in San Francisco.

  So I started over, decided to tone it down a little and make it more three dimensional. Finally, after one or two false starts, I had my piece. I incorporated some glass waves, just because it felt right, and mounted it in a beautiful driftwood burl.

Mother S'kaana in the Northwest Tradition

A Little Side Trip On The Glass Road

  My granddaughter and I took a trip up to the Tacoma Museum of Glass. This is a museum that highlights hot glass. They have a huge hot shop with a gallery. The gallery affords a close up view of the entire process.

 

 It was difficult to get clear photos because the crew
and the glass were in constant motion.
   This piece was designed by Marvin Oliver, right in blue print shirt, and facilitated by Richard Royal, left in plaid shirt. They had a crew of about five assistants, all working like crazy.

    

   This is a similar piece by Marvin Oliver. It shows the petroglyphs applied in frit in the inside layer of glass, and raven appliqués on the outside layer of glass. It was an amazing process.   

 

 From the inside to the outside of the museum, we went across the David Chihuly Bridge of Glass.

 

A picture is worth..well you know..

  

 This is the ceiling. No, really...

 

 The open air atrium at the Tacoma Art Museum allows shadow to constantly alter this Chihuly piece.

   It is my fondest hope that Elicia saw something, anything, on this trip that sparked an urge to explore.  That she will allow the beauty in her soul to flourish and flow.
   Or, maybe she just had a fun trip with Nana. That's ok too.

What A Day For A Daydream

   Construction on our house is in full swing, and I am only now unpacking my glass supplies. They've been in the loft of the barn since September and today I carried them all to their temporary home. Up the stairs to the loft (was that a chest pain or a gas bubble?) Down the stairs (did I do 8 steps or nine..yet) Back up the stairs. Down the stairs again. Load up the Gator with glass separated by cardboard. Drive over the dirt road filled with broken cinder blocks verry verrrry slowly. Carry the glass inside without bumping into any of the construction debris. Back down to the barn. Repeat.

     This winter, Ed temped in a craft room in the garage. Since we're living in close quarters while the house is being built, it doubles as some extra space when family comes to visit. The cats think it's for them, and why crush their delusion?

 
   Ed took a few hours yesterday and built shelves for the glass. They may not be pretty, but they are strong, functional, and temporary. Once the house is finished, I'll have the Taj Mahal of craft rooms!
   Now my fingers are starting to itch. The glass whispers to me, and I'm daydreaming about patterns. In no time, I'll be immersed in a project. I can hardly wait.

Kaiser Permanente-Survive..er..Thrive

 Sometimes Life's road is uphill. This time it is not only uphill but full of switchbacks and rockslides. I've been out of state for the last six weeks helping my sister take care of Mom. At 88, Mom is usually an energetic, independent woman. With one misdiagnoses after another, she has been through a very tough time. We hope to get her home this week and back on her very busy two feet.
   For now, glass will have to wait. Thank you, everyone for your prayers and patience.