New Horizons

To keep my mind off of the flood disaster in the basement (and because I really needed some new inventory) I have been working feverishly in the studio on some new stuff. Thursday I leave for the San Antonio show and I want to be as prepared as I can.

Here are some of my new pieces:


copper enamel beads, beaded beads and wirework beads by SooZen with turquoise donut, czech glass, seed beads, german vintage glass and matching earrings


copper enamel and beaded beads by SooZen, bronze freshwater pearls, firepolish czech crystal, vintage german glass, seed beads with matching earrings


washer bracelet made with galvanized washers, japanese triangle seed beads

The Ides of March

I should know better by now...something goes on in March that afflicts both Nathan and myself. I can look back at the calendar and see it written there through the years. The year that Nate got lost, got bit by a pit bull, nearly got shot by a policeman and on and on...all those things happened in March. But you don't think about those things when you are 'in the moment'...I don't anyway.

Cecil and I decided to go out to dinner with some old and dear friends on Wednesday. We normally don't go out for dinner (it is expensive) but we hadn't seen these folks in awhile and on a whim, I called them and asked them if they wanted to go to a favorite Mexican restaurant that has killer margaritas. We had a great evening (Nate wanted to stay home to watch his show) and when we got back home Nate met us at the door..."HELP!" was all he could muster, "the water is everywhere!!!" Cecil zoomed in the door and down to the basement where our bedrooms and Nate's TV and art room are. Water was everywhere...everywhere...all throughout the entire area, the carpets were soaked, lots of stored items were soaked, it was an ocean and poor Nate kept saying, "I'm sorry, its my fault!"

Seems the toilet got plugged and Nate was unable to stop it so the water just kept coming. Cecil and I stayed up until the wee hours trying to sop most of it up...which was futile. Finally, we fell into our bed which was now an island and Nate had to sleep upstairs in our guest room. Thursday was spent talking to insurance companies, with huge suckers and blowers brought in by water removal experts. Carpet and padding stacked in the front yard, ripped out in huge hunks. Piles of trash which once was treasures are everywhere. Furniture is here, there and yon. To top it off, I feel down on the tile floor last night, bruised and skinned my knee, sprained my finger and had a good crying jag but otherwise I am just fine. Hah!!!

I am writing this to the hum (actually, it'sa roar) of dehumidifiers and drying fans. It is a wonder I could sleep but I guess exhaustion just kicked in.

Nate is okay too. He was more concerned about me and my apparent shock at the whole ordeal. He gets over stuff fast and recovers his peaceful countenance quickly...it will take me a bit more time.

Beware the ides of March...maybe 'be aware' the ides of March should be my motto this time of year but you never see it coming.

SooZen

Note: because I don't have the energy to write this whole thing more than once...it will be posted more than one place that I tend to write in.

Before the Show

Next Thursday I will be on the road again heading down (or is it up?) to San Antonio for the Starving Artists Art Show held charitably by the Little Church of La Villita there on the riverwalk. It is a beautiful setting and I am hoping for good weather (one time we had a tornado warning and very high winds!)

Also, I may get to visit with an old friend from our San Francisco days (before Cec and I were married...that's a long time ago) who now lives in San Antonio. His brother Philip served in the Navy with Cecil and that is how we met Jeffrey. Both guys are dear to us and I haven't seen Jeff in many, many years so I am so looking forward to that. Plus I am hoping that he will lend his manly hands to helping us set up (even if he can't, I am anxious to see him.) Thinking back to the 'olden' days, we had some great times together and Jeff and Phil both have been to Phar Lepht at one time or another (Jeff even stayed here with us for a visit.)...so you can see, I am excited and looking forward to this trip. Also, the wildflowers should be riotous because of all the spring rains from here to there so the trip should be beautiful.

Here are some new pins I have been experimenting with. Tell me what you think:

Fringe Pin number one


Fringe Pin number two


Fringe Pin number three


My scans are crooked, not the pins!

Also got some new signage made for my booth (thanks Cecil!) and some new postcards and business cards done. We did them ourselves on the computer and cut and pasted the originals the old fashioned way but they turned out quite nicely. A lot cheaper than the commercial ones that you can get printed and that counts for a bunch when you are watching your pennies. Besides, they have that 'handmade' look and feel that I like.

Will be very busy in the studio for the next week so will update my journal when I return. Wish me luck!

SooZen

Springtime in Phar Lepht

One of the anomolies of the Phar Lepht desert is the beautiful Mexican poppies that bloom in the spring if we get enough winter moisture. This year the rains were kind and our persistent drought seems to have taken a hiatus for the poppies are blanketing the northeastern slopes of the Franklin Mountains. Cecil and I took a day to go out and explore this wonderful and breathtaking sight. From the Wilderness Park museum parking lot, you can get up close to the poppies and the view of the mountain with its shawl of orange and yellow. Instead of waxing poetic about the sight...I will just show you:

All photos by Cecil B. Lee


closeup of Mexican poppies


SooZen in poppies


poppies with Franklin range in background


Shady Lady in the Wilderness Park


poppy carpet


poppies on the slopes