Memorial Day Bliss

I love the spring! LOVE IT! I spent today in my own personal version of heaven. A kind friend was good enough to share some of her amazingly healthy perennials with us. We spent some time with her this morning gathering up the lovelies and picking up a few annuals for the planters and hanging baskets. YUM!



I was in color heaven, surrounded by all of the delectable sights and smells of summer. If I were a millionaire, I'd have to drop a few thousand on plants and flowers at Lowe's. I'm equally tempted by both indoor and outdoor plants. I simply love to grow things. I love to be surrounded by greenery and blossoms.





Despite not feeling 100%, I was still drawn outside to enjoy this perfect, sun-filled spring day. Rit and I spent the afternoon on our knees and up to our elbows in freshly turned soil planting the new additions to our garden. She's not quite so addicted to the experience as I am. I love feeling the dirt between my fingers and toes. I love planting and watering and nurturing. I'm one of those crazy people who talk to their plants, who attempt to coax slow blossoms into revealing their color through gentle conversation. I love spending summer evenings in the yard watering my garden, willing the peacefulness and serenity and patience of the greenery to soak into my being as though by osmosis through my bare feet. It calms and inspires me.


Tonight my fingers are crossed, hoping that all of the transplants we welcomed today will brighten back up and embrace their new home. Tomorrow brings a long work day spent in the studio with orders to fill. No complaints.



I hope everyone had an equally relaxing weekend and enjoyed time spent with family and friends.

Hello, Sunshine!

So what did you do Friday afternoon, Kate? Oh, I just spent the last 20 minutes or so worshipping my good friend, the sun, el sol, le soleil, il sole, giver of wonderful warmth and happy and bright thoughts, lifter of my mood. I wasn't worshipping in the traditional sense of my youth--slathered in oil and lying spread eagle on the trampoline. No, I was simply sitting in my back yard with my eyes closed, soaking up the warmth and letting my thoughts float around and over and through future creative endeavors involving glass, paper and fabric. Color and emotion being at the forefront of each. I can't wait for the ghostly images to settle into something I can bring out and shape into some tangible object. A little quiet creative time is good.

Basking the bright orange and red and yellow warmth of the sun inspires me. I hope you find these photos equally inspiring. They seem so fitting today.

Complements of Rit, I give you YELLOW:

What a great eye! Enjoy!

White Noise

Today's inspirational color is...

WHITE (or the combination of all color).

Think light, think balance, think clean and bright and peaceful.

Enjoy: White...

Kudos to Rit again for an assignment very well done.

Bye, Bye Georges...

So the Georges have officially flown the coop, so to speak. I noticed that they were becoming particularly bold in their wandering throughout the weekend. I checked on them Sunday afternoon and then went to take a shower. All were cuddled up, sleeping soundly. About an hour later, Rit came into the living room with a look of such sadness on her face. All she could say was..."Don't look outside. Just don't look."

After much wailing and a puddle of tears, we buried two of the Georges. I still don't know what happened to them. The rest had left...gone. I did a little research online and learned that it was time for them to leave the nest...they were plenty big enough. They had to make a 4-1/2 foot leap down from the nest onto the concrete of the driveway. I don't know if those two just didn't survive the leap or what. I was so sad. I know, I know...the whole circle of life thing...survival of the fittest and all that. I was just heartbroken that two of them died. I did see one of them later hiding in the tall grass of our front yard. I hope he finds a new nest to call home.

As I dug a hole in our soon-to-be flower bed for the burial, tears streaming down my face, I went through an internal session of kicking myself for getting so attached to the little guys. See, no thick emotional skin. What did I tell you? (See previous post...)

But as I've thought about my complete and total emotional vulnerability, I can't help but smile. It's what makes me who I am. Yes, I cry during sappy commercials and I gasp at the sight of dead animals by the side of the road. But I'm also so easily amused that I laugh openly and loudly at the same commercials over and over, regardless of how many times I've seen them. I think it makes life more enjoyable to feel deeply...to be emotionally available and open and aware.

I take great pleasure at the little things...the perfect grapefruit, fragrant lilacs, grass under my bare feet, a mid-afternoon nap cuddled up with my girls, a newly painted room. But I also drop into emotional turmoil when two of my little Georges don't make it to their two-month birthday.

It's what pulls me into my studio each morning...to surround myself with glass and to create...to pull from my deepest inside a seemingly endless supply of whimsical designs and eye-catching color combinations...all while keeping my brain occupied with books on tape, excellent music or taped season finales of my favorite shows. It's what allows me to do what I do day after day...and enjoy it so much. It's all part of the overly sensitive package called Kate.

I hope there are more Georges next spring.

BUT I LOVE THEM!

Winter is hard on me. Don't get me wrong--I enjoy a good yummy snow storm. I enjoy the quietness of a winter day. I love snowshoeing and skiing and snowmobiling. I love hunkering down with a thick blanket and a good book while a mad, crazy blizzard rages outside. But after the rush of a busy fall and the craziness of the holidays and seasonal orders, I find myself sinking into a deep funk after Christmas. I think January through April are the hardest times of the year for me. I claw my way out of darkness every day searching for some semblance of a routine to get me through to the next morning. It's rough. I don't feel anything like my usual self.

That's part of the reason I anticipate spring with such glee. I can't wait for the days to start growing, for my ferns to begin their long arching stretch toward the sun, for the birds to return and greet me each morning, and for the blossoms to unfold and reveal their magnificence. I love hearing children's laughter as they dare to venture into the outdoors once again. I love the feeling of the sun on my face. I love seeing all of the new life that slowly spreads across the once barren artic tundra. It delights me to no end. This spring brought a wonderful new surprise.

If this doesn't melt your heart, then you must be completely lacking in softness and affection for all things small and loveable and furry and too cute...

About a week ago, I noticed a rabbit hanging out in our yard. This isn't TOO abnormal in that this area does have its fair share of rabbits. However, we have two large dogs, both of which obsess about small furry things that dash about in a teasing manner. This has turned our yard into a mostly small-furry-animal-free zone. Only the bravest of squirrels dare cross the threshold into an up close and personal--not to mention potentially fatal--version of "When Good Pets Go Bad."

So there she was...just sitting there, huddled up against the house. I watched her for a minute, and then I came in the house and called Rit. I thought it was so odd that a rabbit was hanging out in our yard that I had to a share the shock of it all. The next time I looked, the rabbit was gone. Since that day, I always look in the same place for her. I would hate for the dogs to catch sight of her before I did. Much screaming and barking and fur-flying would ensue and it would take me weeks to recover from the horror.

I have had my fair share of dead-animals-in-my-yard experiences growing up. We had a pet chicken named Gloria who met with an untimely demise. And then there were the baby chicks I was raising, which were slaughtered by my own dog while I was at church one Sunday. Not to mention the time my pet kitty was hiding in the lawn mower when my sister attempted to mow the lawn. All quite scarring. But I LOVE animals. With my healthy stash of animal death horror stories, one would think that I have developed a thick skin when it comes to this sort of thing. But no. I still choke up when I see a poor deer or raccoon by the side of the road, struck down in the prime of its life. I can't even handle disposing of the little songbirds that mistake our front window for a lush forest. Any time I hear that sickening thump, I immediately dart out front to see if the little fella needs CPR or crutches...perhaps an aspirin.

As I approached the planting bed this afternoon, my eyes settled on the same spot in search of a furry little ball. Instead, I was greeted by a tiny little pile of dark eyes, twitching noses and perfect pairs of ears. My delight was palpable.

"I will hold you and kiss you and stroke you and call you George."

I think I've counted six little ones, but such a mass can be hard to separate into individual palm-size bunnies. I love them already, but I am refraining from touching them or getting too close. I'd hate to throw a wrench into the whole circle of life thing. I was so excited that I've already shared the news with my mail carrier, the incomparable Lynn; my neighbor, Michelle; and anyone else who will hold still and feign interest long enough.

LATER:

Well, Otto, in all of her wild wisdom and tracking prowess, has discovered that something is amiss in the yard. I've talked with her about how devastated I would be and how long it would take me to forgive her should she harm the Georges in any way. She doesn't seem to care much. I'm keeping her far, far away until they find their way out of their cubby. She is wolf-like after all. The call of the wild runs through her veins.

Here's a photo of cuteness incarnate...I give you the Georges:





I'm taking the appearance of these new little lives as a sign. It's going to be a great summer.

So much color, so little time...

Last year, our digital camera bit the dust. It just gave up the ghost....wouldn't focus any longer. It had a good life, I guess. Anyway, so I spent weeks online researching digital cameras. We needed one for around the house, but I also needed one for work...taking pictures of products, etc. We didn't want to spend too much, and although I really wanted a digital SLR, we couldn't afford it. But I wanted to find one that had the most features possible. And I did. Enter the amazing Olympus SP350. I love this camera. It has an fabulous super-macro setting that I find highly addictive. And it takes great photos.

Last summer during the annual Lee Family Big Lake Retreat Week, a challenge was extended. A photo contest to end all photo contests. Our camera was a mere couple of months old, and yet Rit embraced the challenge and set about attempting to familiarize herself with our new digital wonder.

And that's how it all started...her photography obsession. I have to admit that it delights me to no end to see her get so excited about a hobby. She loves it. I've given her a few photography books to foster this new love.

I gave Rit a photography assignment a couple of weeks ago. The assignment? Color. Go and seek out colorful shots of everyday items. Give us new perspective and make each shot single color dominant.

Wow. I continue to be amazed at the shots she shows me. Let me present to you the first of many color days. Today, enjoy BLUE:

Enjoy!

Kate

Water Colors

My choice of colors on any given day reflects the ebb and flow of my ever-changing mood. Today my pallette consists of muted blues and greens and purples. I don't feel morose, just pensive, I think. I'm aching to spend some time by the water. I think I'll head down to the lake this weekend.

Thankful

I sit back behind the table and try to hide my eager watchful eye, waiting for a reaction from the passers-by. Please accept this, my color, my life, my day in and day out, myself exposed and laid out before you. Please smile back. Please be kind. Please respect that those funky colorful baubles are my heart, my soul, blood drawn from my living being and spread out before you--displayed in living color, highlighted by cheap fluorescent lamps.

I do this because I love it. But that is not all. I create because I am compelled to do so. It's my impulsion, my therapy, my strongest urge and my deepest contentment. It makes my soul soar and feeds an ache deep within me. It makes my heart weep one moment, and the next I'm singing along to my ipod and dancing around my studio.

A most sincere thank you to all who have supported my endeavors as an artist--you who have inspired me, you who have shown me where and how to find beauty in the world, you who have wrapped me in kind words, you who have enjoyed my work, you who have shared my passion with others. Thank you. You have allowed me to live as my true self, not only to make a living, but to make a life--a very happy one at that.

Everything Looks Better in Colour

http://www.bravia-advert.com/paint/thead/

Buy Original

I've noticed recently that there are some pretty blatant copies of my work and designs circulating, especially in the Manitowoc County area.

Yuck. I hate dealing with this kind of thing. It makes my insides hurt. I hate the idea of someone copying or stealing someone, anyone else's designs. I know firsthand what it takes to be creative. I know what it takes to be an artist. I know what it takes to try and make a living as an artist. I know what it takes to nourish your creative side, to sit there with a blank canvas in your mind and play with colors and designs until inspiration hits.

I've also experienced watching customers mull over my work as I make notes on what sells and what doesn't. I've done the leg work of honing my product offerings after attending countless shows and listening to customer feedback. This is my living we're talking about.

But more than that, this is me we're talking about. I'm the one who sits in my studio hour after hour and day after day (loving it, of course, but that isn't the point). It's my insides turned outside and fused into each piece I pull from the kiln. Each item's color palette is determined by my mood the day it was made...or what I'd like it to be. I admit, sometimes it's wishful thinking. Each item is representative of some piece of me. For someone to take that cuts deep.

On the flip side, I know that it isn't the end of the world that others are mimicking my work. I guess I'm just expressing the meanderings of a moody artist.

They say that imitation/plagarism is the sincerest form of flattery. Somehow I don't feel very flattered...I'd describe it more as violated.

Moral of the story: When looking for my work, make sure you're buying Kate Gadd Glass originals. Trust me, it's worth it.

New Offerings...

I now have loose lampwork beads for sale on my website. Go to www.kategadd.com to see what's available.

I also offer wholesale for established shops and businesses. Contact me for more information.

Originality

Don’t worry about your originality. You could not get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick to you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do. (Robert Henry)

Happy Life

Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. (Isak Dinesen)

Favorites

I think that if I lived alone, I would subsist almost entirely on Kashi GOLean Crunch, Cheerios, toast and peaches.

oh, and popsicles.

and grapefruit.

and I would have a chocolate fountain on my kitchen counter...always on....
surrounded by various tasty delights for dipping.


oh, and a banana to go with my Kashi.

Coming Home

Working with glass is so fascinating to me. For better or worse, I've chosen not to focus on one element of glassworking. Instead, I work in stained glass, fusing and lampworking--each of which requires a unique skill set and a much different approach from the other aforementioned techniques.

When I'm working, I really get into a groove. I have a system...a production line, so to speak, for each type of work I make. It's always so interesting to gauge my reaction when I attempt to shift gears from one technique to another. It's hard on me. It's hard to change my focus. And it always seems that no matter type of work I'm shifting to, it doesn't excite me...I don't look forward to it...I struggle.

Take today, for example. Rit and the dogs are out of town for the week, playing at the cottage with Rit's family up north. So, I've been taking advantage of the work time sans interruptions and pretty much stayed in my studio practically non-stop getting ready for a show this weekend. Okay, I admit that part of my diligent work effort has to do with my lovely air-conditioned studio and the lack of air conditioning in the house. With that said, back to my story...where was I? Oh, right...

So, I started out the morning bright and early working on some fusing projects. I thought I would just work on them long enough to get enough ready to fill my large kiln while waiting for my smaller bead kiln to heat up so that I could work on beads.

By the time I sat down to make beads, it was getting close to mid-morning. I hadn't spent time beadmaking since last week. I simply sat and stared at my torch. It suddenly seemed so foreign to me. We used to be best friends. I wanted to spend every waking moment at that torch. And now, I was almost afraid to turn it on.

Crazy. Afraid of what? Blowing myself up? Charring the glass? Making ugly beads? I don't know. It's strange that even a few days away from the torch can seem like years...a lifetime even. It all seemed so unnatural at first...winding the molten glass onto the mandrel, slowly and methodically shaping it, adding enamels and details, watching the interaction between colors and the play of light...

After a couple of less-than-stellar beads, it all came back to me. I suddenly fell back into the groove. The torch, the glass and I became one. It became effortless again. Without conscious thought, my hands moved--molding, shaping, detailing, watching--as I sang to Maroon 5 playing loudly on my stereo. I fell back into myself (if that makes any sense) as I relaxed into the warm glow of the molten glass. It felt like coming home.

Summer Bugs

I love summer. I love everything about summer. I love the sun. I love wearing flip-flops. I love playing outside in the daylight until 9 p.m. I love waking up early with the sun. I love hearing the birds sing. I love being barefoot. I love popsicles. I love gardening. I love grilling and eating outside. I simply LOVE summer!

There are, however, a few things that I have not loved about the past couple of summers. One, I hate mosquitos. Unfortunately, mosquitos love me. Apparently I have very sweet blood, and it seems as though mosquitos can track me from miles and miles away. Strangely enough, they also love my dog, Maggie. They don't seem to bother my other dog, Otto. However, Maggie and I find ourselves covered in bites each year when the weather starts to warm. Not fun.

Two, the past couple of years, the warm weather has carried to my door some rather unfortunate bugs...and by bugs, I don't mean the kind with wings, I mean the infectious, causes-you-to-be-bedridden kind.

Last summer was a bust...officially. It started off well enough. The sun came out, the birds started to sing, I started to do my usual summer shows. And then, out of the blue and without warning, it hit...MONO!! Yes, it is rare for someone my age (thirtyish) to come down with mono. Lucky for me, I tend to grab hold of all rare illnesses and infirmities. Let's just chalk it up to my oh-so-funny immune system and it's quirky sense of humor. It loves those good rare germs that all others seem to pass up. I can picture it now...I'm walking into the grocery store...I'm going for a cart...I pull one from the cart line-up...and lo and behold, some delightful prior customer has coughed, blown their nose, sneezed and grabbed hold of that cart. And just like that, my immune system thinks that mono sounds pretty rare and exciting...you know, something new to share with fellow immune systems in the neighborhood. Yeah, real funny.

I remember when it hit. I was at a show and I thought I might be coming down with the flu or something. I was really groggy and just not feeling so hot. I was so sleepy that Rit took over my booth for me and I fell asleep in the car. TWO HOURS LATER, Rit came to rouse me. It was all downhill from there. I have never been so sick in my entire life. I thought I might die. It took me months to recover. And by the time I started to feel even remotely like myself again, summer was long gone. I had slept through summer. No popsicles. No flipflops. No playing in the late evening sunshine. No gardening. Nothing. No summer. I was devastated. I happen to also love autumn, but it wasn't quite the same. I felt cheated. My internal season clock was off. I missed the sun.

Fast forward to this summer. Obviously, I counted down the days with eager anticipation. I couldn't wait to feel the warm summer sun on my face. That old immune system...what a joker! Summer hadn't even officially begun yet when a particularly tempting pack of germs sauntered by. And there it was. I was in the thick of it when I finally succumbed to peer pressure and dragged myself to the doctor. What I thought was an eternally lingering cold turned out to be a nice, ripe bronchial infection. How delightful. So, I've spent the past couple of weeks moaning, coughing, eating popsicles, sucking on cough drops, and glued to my Advil Cold & Sinus(R) and Chloroseptic(R). I struggled to chug down some Nyquil each night and kept sore throat lozenges in my pillowcase. I know, I know, never a dull moment in my corner of the world. My sister-in-law Emily blames my immune system's lack of integrity on not being of "good Wisconsin stock." Could be, could be. We don't have such vicious cold spells or humidity in Utah. Nevertheless, I am on the mend, and I vow to resume my usual routine this week.

On a different note, the Art vs. Craft show yesterday was AWESOME! For those of you who weren't able to make it, you truly missed out. There were some odd things and some really cool things. The indie craft movement is weird, wild stuff. So much creativity under one roof. Some of the best booths are those run by my favorite indie crafters. Check out their sites: http://www.brightlights-littlecity.com/ and http://www.etchouse.com/EKRA/. There are many more. I'll post their links on my site. Thanks to Kim and Faythe (www.paperboatboutique.com) for organizing such a fabulous show...again! Here are some photos of my booth from the show:

I would just like to point out my recent most favorite thing I've made. She's resting in the watering can in front of the table. That's right, it's a Garden Cheerleader garden stick complete with pom poms. Just stick her in your garden and she'll cheer your plants on to bloom-filled victory. I LOVE HER! I'm happy to say that she went to a good home yesterday. I'll miss her, but alas, the squad must go on.

I love these new rings I've added to my product line. They are super fun to make and to wear!

Tribal faces galore

A very smiley Rit, a great helper yesterday, watching over a myriad of pendants.

Anyway, great show, good time. I hope to see you all at the next Art vs. Craft show in November. I'll keep you posted on the details.

p.s. For those of you who received a bazillion emails from me on Friday, I apologize. Apparently, the newsletter software I was using got the best of me. I just couldn't get it to work quite right. I left the details about the show out of the first email accidently. My later attempts to rectify the situation went seriously awry. Again, sorry! Better luck next time!

Long Time, No Write

I know, I know... it's been much too long since I've written. What can I say? Life's gotten the better of me this past month! I was busy preparing for our local art association's first ever Studio/Gallery Tour. What a great idea! I'm fascinated by the work of other artists and to be able to view their work space and see how the inspiration and medium come together is wonderful. It was a great experience. And I enjoyed showing off my new digs to local art lovers.

Here's the final product of our weeks of labor and a couple of shots of me working on a bead:

What great fun! I absolutely LOVE my new space and I love working on my torch! Anyway, I've been working on fused glass rings...keep an eye on the website. They're coming soon!