tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14777276443224274752024-03-13T01:00:09.344-08:00Kellie Robinson's Wearable and Not So Wearable ArtKellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-14239836767044741182011-04-03T13:21:00.005-08:002011-04-03T13:27:12.726-08:00Love to Draw!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzBf4NB-aR_20MGwUkgMhLsz3q1DxnU6kHZ47OwqXq9Ztyf2uVb8oHQC3xeftiBS9-8zQtu4JPAHdHafkpQn492vEaj-pQjtRrAgeNWAd76bEeJfMvMW_F04Qx2jfWsuWn0rF_cNpz18/s1600/tangle10.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzBf4NB-aR_20MGwUkgMhLsz3q1DxnU6kHZ47OwqXq9Ztyf2uVb8oHQC3xeftiBS9-8zQtu4JPAHdHafkpQn492vEaj-pQjtRrAgeNWAd76bEeJfMvMW_F04Qx2jfWsuWn0rF_cNpz18/s320/tangle10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591471619736688274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtBPgpyq-MCiukSG9tSsI1AT35DuSSSQsMvuq5bQ0Md5-UfPLLwTyu8gtl-W5nIT2nzy1df_2A-mKG6OwYX4UzjKPoHhZHrZP4uOXMZwvFvqsUXq-MSzpTP1pF2WRWY66PRFz7ehVsq0/s1600/tangle11.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtBPgpyq-MCiukSG9tSsI1AT35DuSSSQsMvuq5bQ0Md5-UfPLLwTyu8gtl-W5nIT2nzy1df_2A-mKG6OwYX4UzjKPoHhZHrZP4uOXMZwvFvqsUXq-MSzpTP1pF2WRWY66PRFz7ehVsq0/s320/tangle11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591471541392158994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYICOMn0QlMi9xoOVnvtdn8EGZxgm2dwyUTi5yxG6aSUuw1GXNxOWhUVRtmUOm1vnMw9oJFfMw4fOFQUtCjH-9xgNRkCMrj6IB0N6K8JS8b7PdptMDAkuursdQzz272pderdstPSlzEM/s1600/tangle12.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYICOMn0QlMi9xoOVnvtdn8EGZxgm2dwyUTi5yxG6aSUuw1GXNxOWhUVRtmUOm1vnMw9oJFfMw4fOFQUtCjH-9xgNRkCMrj6IB0N6K8JS8b7PdptMDAkuursdQzz272pderdstPSlzEM/s320/tangle12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591471457395533730" /></a><br />More Zentangles. These are numbers 10, 11 and 12. One of my favorite patterns is the <a href="http://http://openseedarts.blogspot.com/2010/06/flutter-pie-steps.html">Flutterpie</a>, it's fun to draw and looks great! I have been having fun drawing on colored card stock, and making more cards.<br /><br />We have lots of moose that roam our city and earlier this week I took a series of short <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheKellieak?feature=mhum">videos</a> of one in our backyard.Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-66547353458072777892011-03-17T18:02:00.003-08:002011-03-18T07:33:21.327-08:00A Challenge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_J68_1yZ2aB7u3CAEF0SJYSYsXkbwlXWFXbvgXjHyFsYFR6IPN21fKVEC1WnxIpxhEbT1IccKP32Str_nm1OKAJs_f059AC7I-FCGOYCIbyEICi31xowc76UB-pwzPRi8S2mMqSjCvM/s1600/tangle09.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_J68_1yZ2aB7u3CAEF0SJYSYsXkbwlXWFXbvgXjHyFsYFR6IPN21fKVEC1WnxIpxhEbT1IccKP32Str_nm1OKAJs_f059AC7I-FCGOYCIbyEICi31xowc76UB-pwzPRi8S2mMqSjCvM/s320/tangle09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585234825718742818" /></a><br />I decided to really challenge myself on my 9th zentangle. There are 35 petals in this drawing, and each petal has it's own pattern. I tried some patterns I had been a hesitant to try, and as with each one that I do, I learned a lot!<br /><br />My zentangling and the benefits I have been receiving from it were mentioned by Suzanne McNeill in her <a href="http://blog.suzannemcneill.com/2011/03/17/zentangle-in-art.aspx">blog</a>. I am very thankful for her kind words about my work! It's been less then 24 hours since her blog went live and I have already heard from another person with fibro who has noticed the pain relieving benefits of zentangle.Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-2619383984306959422011-03-14T08:57:00.013-08:002011-03-18T07:36:39.174-08:00Obsessed with Zentangle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO91AoEG5J9S9p2A3uc3kR-C_AC4ABb8QYzcZzh0xEFDSuF3ToHvye7HRt5cI8OJfYbh51F196RvayY7qLc2WPA2z_Q2OiW73xCmmtk0keHRdoNzeEGdvvx998CrBDINmUFBwziq5eH5E/s1600/tangle01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO91AoEG5J9S9p2A3uc3kR-C_AC4ABb8QYzcZzh0xEFDSuF3ToHvye7HRt5cI8OJfYbh51F196RvayY7qLc2WPA2z_Q2OiW73xCmmtk0keHRdoNzeEGdvvx998CrBDINmUFBwziq5eH5E/s320/tangle01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583985438218921874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6S_7rQtpCshiylzH5utFIBP_eCoKlPXwzboMgle7rgTyz8M5ccV-MOr1e5NqalLUPyYLKA6Q-_L5_HUiav1M5gCN3MpMXbD1ol9eu5Lu0x8Ih8NLLQn2I1riwkBxb9WH08AShUQnSNA8/s1600/tangle02.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6S_7rQtpCshiylzH5utFIBP_eCoKlPXwzboMgle7rgTyz8M5ccV-MOr1e5NqalLUPyYLKA6Q-_L5_HUiav1M5gCN3MpMXbD1ol9eu5Lu0x8Ih8NLLQn2I1riwkBxb9WH08AShUQnSNA8/s320/tangle02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583985365432714930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZ3TuvslUAVKynz5KUwgMOreNynsIfv391AVAlJJXTVVIQOwAywJ_hZvTTQgQZ1Qwb5M4jRcZGnGzxUJGnEIwwPOdaCYPgkiNVYXhXh3OrycFM4dJBlqammjvjHQPMen7pcFUf0Cm8rc/s1600/tangle03.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZ3TuvslUAVKynz5KUwgMOreNynsIfv391AVAlJJXTVVIQOwAywJ_hZvTTQgQZ1Qwb5M4jRcZGnGzxUJGnEIwwPOdaCYPgkiNVYXhXh3OrycFM4dJBlqammjvjHQPMen7pcFUf0Cm8rc/s320/tangle03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583985277148095730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoGEJMKDZP1570OSenAb_L2Ydp3sL-eHS728pOyrQXh64xDLF4Z-pE7JfJzG6wLDkZR4YrnMIS6IhOCVsc_p9-duaSgqOf8ornE26iBSxX3ERghjc-muxJvaM3opKVoIM6zXS3TWSlQk/s1600/tangle04.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoGEJMKDZP1570OSenAb_L2Ydp3sL-eHS728pOyrQXh64xDLF4Z-pE7JfJzG6wLDkZR4YrnMIS6IhOCVsc_p9-duaSgqOf8ornE26iBSxX3ERghjc-muxJvaM3opKVoIM6zXS3TWSlQk/s320/tangle04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583985212200721938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRflfZPRUEEw3qitBp_AeHWXe6Dj_f0yyMPKX0pbVfYjc7bvQ6jhCp9Rcxs-sf2cK73HxnHoFDQRckJJK7ACp7KIlU7YF60XLkT0RH8x2T6RQIS68Pq1Xj0eiXKtnjw0Sm2tfLWbYJUQ/s1600/tangle05shaded.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRflfZPRUEEw3qitBp_AeHWXe6Dj_f0yyMPKX0pbVfYjc7bvQ6jhCp9Rcxs-sf2cK73HxnHoFDQRckJJK7ACp7KIlU7YF60XLkT0RH8x2T6RQIS68Pq1Xj0eiXKtnjw0Sm2tfLWbYJUQ/s320/tangle05shaded.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583985135260266082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQDJwoLMZbvq9_3jIkEDKwFrQUvlq44TtJZgYmzYk2b0O5mjXuJ-Z9ElzBlTxCfPY7UqOdptjc3EhjsSjcAsayR3goq1NG2C7V6uipB7bzum8t_NgqmRZa_nYPu8paBki3B3Www1tN2o/s1600/zentangle07.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQDJwoLMZbvq9_3jIkEDKwFrQUvlq44TtJZgYmzYk2b0O5mjXuJ-Z9ElzBlTxCfPY7UqOdptjc3EhjsSjcAsayR3goq1NG2C7V6uipB7bzum8t_NgqmRZa_nYPu8paBki3B3Www1tN2o/s320/zentangle07.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583985044961167570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd3v-duNu0Ixy2hXqUpzO2gMoY6doSycgo3EXpHAn9VHc9aPPXmFuYC7kQ3ahdGxOrTrdXJWaNmTM9k3hFFBWMfcWTdvYIs2ajIZLFqE99tHzDcyRzeJrc-ki7YT7fuQ0wYuE0CNNF28/s1600/tangle08.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd3v-duNu0Ixy2hXqUpzO2gMoY6doSycgo3EXpHAn9VHc9aPPXmFuYC7kQ3ahdGxOrTrdXJWaNmTM9k3hFFBWMfcWTdvYIs2ajIZLFqE99tHzDcyRzeJrc-ki7YT7fuQ0wYuE0CNNF28/s320/tangle08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583984965954800978" /></a><br /> <br />Finally something new to say, and a reason to say it. I have a new love of drawing. While I have been creative all my life, I always stayed away from drawing, it was a skill I didn't believe I had. I probably haven't doodled since I was in high school. <br /><br />I had a bad case of the winter blues, and was feeling creatively blocked. On facebook, I kept seeing my friends talk about this Zentangle thing, and I decided to check it out about 5 weeks ago. Why not? It's just some pens and paper, a very inexpensive medium for me to check out, compared to most of the other things I do. Within 24 hours I had finished my first one, and was hooked.<br /><br />As an artist, I have always loved fine detail, getting into the meditative state that relaxes me. Zentangle does this for me in spades. If you have read my blog, you know I have fibromyalgia. Zentangling gets me in such a relaxed state that I believe it helps the pain I experience. Maybe it doesn't really get rid of the pain, but I seem to tune it out while I am doodling. I have no doubt that it does help with anxiety and perhaps is even helping me to sleep a bit better... Such a blessing!<br /><br />I am very thankful to all the artists out there who have generously posted pattern instructions on their blogs, and videos on youtube. You have inspired me, taught me, and opened my eyes to the fact that perhaps I <span style="font-weight:bold;">can</span> do just about anything I decide I want to do! Ancora Imparo!Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-25187561487414309372009-09-14T05:47:00.009-08:002013-01-08T07:08:56.325-09:00An Arist with an Invisible Illness<a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381327330781278658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb1umBxNdoTJczRIUrG9TuyehxqNq2OW8BpTx8smEzeXS_fIgRxFnWNONXof9L-Zt8OhfkkZeZl-jRGUlkq8pq3J0ylrPqihaGwpVbZMu0UjFUzrQvFvKPVnZELDYfTDAoI_ZDvKw8vg/s400/ii2009logo-210pixels-low-resolution-animated-for-web.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 210px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 210px;" /></a>
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<a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381318824315141314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwl_H7iXIwup41BzTPAi01Xilu7LKJOb7FqjYxXIrceQ0cwjKrl3_SpzZHqSrkcfD3NJ5Yd8LcCN9zy8CMmUDv9NxG6u0ShItQG2Jo8BujSl3-NPpG5S5sUEdAxM8qPEpkM4eKS-APCk/s400/09_blogging-badge2.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 201px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 148px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%;">
</span><link href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Kellie/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} h2 {margin-right:0in; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-outline-level:2; font-size:18.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style> -->
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20, 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">What is an invisible illness? It's a term used to refer to a medical condition that isn't visible to others. It encompasses a range of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, asthma, fibromyalgia and many other conditions. According to the 2002 Census, approximately 96% of people who live with an illness have an illness that is invisible. These people do not use a cane or any assistive device and may look perfectly healthy. Why is this important? Society expects the ill to look ill. People have preconceived notions on what a really sick person should look like, and so, people like myself, who have a chronic illness, are judged because we don't look sick. </span></div>
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<br />My illness is fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed about 6 years ago. There is not any part of my life that has not been changed by this. I don’t look sick, but even on my good days now, there is always pain and exhaustion.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I work in a bead store, and while my co-workers know about my illness, most of our customers do not.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I teach at the bead store, and most of the students don’t know that I have fibromyalgia.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I love trying to explain to someone that I can only teach once a month because it takes me a month to recover. They look at me like I have “lazy” tattooed on my forehead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">For people with an invisible illness, there is often a feeling of judgment, or lack of understanding. I myself have been guilty of this in the past.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">You see someone pull up and park in a handicap parking spot, and they walk away from the car.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">They look fine and you instantly assume that they are cheating the system, probably using someone else’s placard.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Now I understand you don’t have to look sick to be sick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">My fibromyalgia causes me to have symptoms that range from extreme and almost constant pain, migraines, severe restless leg syndrome, digestive issues, blurry vision, chemical sensitivities, and constant fatigue.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">People with fibromyaglia have sleep issues, we don’t get into that deep REM sleep, which is the restive and restorative sleep.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">We start to have cognitive issues when this is going on, trouble thinking, remembering, and talking.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I always mix up words.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I will call a couch a “curtain”.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I can usually tell by the look on someone’s face that I have messed up my words again, they always look so confused.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">All these symptoms and yet I don’t look sick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">How does having fibromyalgia affect me as an artist? For one thing, it’s become pretty clear that there are some things that have become very hard for me to do.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I rarely work with my clay for pleasure any more; it’s hard on me. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The same goes for crocheting.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I love both of these crafts, but I am slowly letting them go.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I love doing the wire wrapping but can’t do it all the time either, it’s almost as bad as the crocheting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">How does having an invisible illness affect me as an artist?</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">People have this expectation of you, if you are an artist, that you should be out there selling your work.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I did try to do craft shows for a couple of years after my diagnosis, but I was killing myself trying to do all that physical work.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I decided to quit selling a few years ago and try to concentrate on my job.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">This isn’t working either.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I give my job every ounce of energy I have, and then I come home and rest up for the next day of work.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I have no quality of life anymore.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Getting a new job is going to be difficult with my health issues, so the solution is that I need to sell my work.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I can’t tell you how many times I have heard “you should go do this, you should go do that” and when I say that I am not physically capable of it, people always look stunned, because I don’t look sick. If I ever do shows again, it will only be with someone else doing the set up for me.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The ideal situation is online selling, no show set up required! For now, I am trying to set up my little etsy shop and hopefully I can quit my job in a few years and work from home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Why am I blogging for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week? Because I believe in the power of those of us that are ill. If we stand up and explain, help educate, eventually we can overcome the stigma attached with invisible illness. I don't often update my blog, but this is very important to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!</span></div>
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Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-20204387615098609562009-03-30T16:09:00.010-08:002009-03-30T16:30:22.187-08:00Ancora Imparo Design<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6BO01SnJ2qmuneC3yEPWhnd16Z0cR52TKxWKPtl_FivilVLHN6_m0f_mh030kh6DxHPW1-w6XKIhetDxY7l9W6OqAxJ3BJdlkyGaUHdvLIeRQVvnCTVFKnqBB0M4MjCwGp0Oj8RvNeY/s1600-h/AncoraImparoWebBanner7360X100.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 53px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6BO01SnJ2qmuneC3yEPWhnd16Z0cR52TKxWKPtl_FivilVLHN6_m0f_mh030kh6DxHPW1-w6XKIhetDxY7l9W6OqAxJ3BJdlkyGaUHdvLIeRQVvnCTVFKnqBB0M4MjCwGp0Oj8RvNeY/s400/AncoraImparoWebBanner7360X100.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319142133188043074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpbcthcHTcYmwoF3X8revjtgyEJ1f-UftsDCRTPO94WUMGicT8HCspS0b-YIT1hAG8EkBvykg0YMxGhivKBtLp7xeeBmN8Ce0-WxVhvUiGHhyrv4QsV4v4LSaeWptY68ZgwRgOupeEPs/s1600-h/amethyst_blossomearrings02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpbcthcHTcYmwoF3X8revjtgyEJ1f-UftsDCRTPO94WUMGicT8HCspS0b-YIT1hAG8EkBvykg0YMxGhivKBtLp7xeeBmN8Ce0-WxVhvUiGHhyrv4QsV4v4LSaeWptY68ZgwRgOupeEPs/s320/amethyst_blossomearrings02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319142024995614130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxzQIHMtpUC_vljzTBzqWQOvbmmPfxDven5_92zIhNk6OhkyD1mfmQRRMGgFArKAQGrG35qm-Qwvl87_biAIc94Q3cpBK-kQ8cugXPlkhSWFfYcYlwOykO87FDORo5V-rRYLbFiA0K54/s1600-h/pcpearlslvr01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxzQIHMtpUC_vljzTBzqWQOvbmmPfxDven5_92zIhNk6OhkyD1mfmQRRMGgFArKAQGrG35qm-Qwvl87_biAIc94Q3cpBK-kQ8cugXPlkhSWFfYcYlwOykO87FDORo5V-rRYLbFiA0K54/s320/pcpearlslvr01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319141926838150930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR57NqVdphtwkDBhj02ymz7aGPUttgZYUcos2hrbqTyJ0jAi4-jAG4F6IwWGvZO8XppEK_ty30GimZB52X0aMJKi3QDOFK7J9KxtGwDfdL2P8-uU7y9Unbx_NE4_YB_hRrguAfPVzj9HI/s1600-h/sugalitecppr01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR57NqVdphtwkDBhj02ymz7aGPUttgZYUcos2hrbqTyJ0jAi4-jAG4F6IwWGvZO8XppEK_ty30GimZB52X0aMJKi3QDOFK7J9KxtGwDfdL2P8-uU7y9Unbx_NE4_YB_hRrguAfPVzj9HI/s320/sugalitecppr01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319141767275932098" border="0" /></a><br />I finally got off my duff and opened up an <a href="http://www.ancoraimparodesign.etsy.com/">etsy shop</a>! This will feature more then polymer clay, I have lots of things I love to make! It's starting out slowly, but I am working on it every week.<br /><br />What is Ancora Imparo? It is a quote attributed to Michelangelo in the later years of his life. It means "Still I am learning". I love this, and decided years ago that if I ever did open a shop, this would be the name. I am more excited about what I might learn tomorrow then what I already know today!<br /><br />Here are some pictures of some new stuff I have been working on. I have been making my own earwires, doing some wire wrapping, fusing silver and having fun!Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-66698025586994886352009-03-15T12:41:00.015-08:002009-03-15T13:32:03.742-08:00"Burnt Offerings" and finding an old love again.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFHkti3M2ooqtMSwPxwPiiUnHEZaRwkWNDXGaSFOMG0qrtYRnVKzNZLLp-th2frcQDNGcqjVu4IeqMp8PcWX2XmjFOxHebROx3zedjA78eIvUs9qw-xQykFIB3ot4pC5AYQfTYGAvKag/s1600-h/woodfilagree01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFHkti3M2ooqtMSwPxwPiiUnHEZaRwkWNDXGaSFOMG0qrtYRnVKzNZLLp-th2frcQDNGcqjVu4IeqMp8PcWX2XmjFOxHebROx3zedjA78eIvUs9qw-xQykFIB3ot4pC5AYQfTYGAvKag/s320/woodfilagree01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313526916026149586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSB3NYIQDwETh39q_6NBqkMTYrRlbXPK2QJalX0AITTX4Ljl1BKGv8kuACO7PD6ecFE6NURDw2E1CC-PxV1zh48ZLA_Q15G3JcMr5FGl7l2NDJlFnxxt1hctx4Cls5Sy1XA4WHUboXPI/s1600-h/filagreenecklace03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSB3NYIQDwETh39q_6NBqkMTYrRlbXPK2QJalX0AITTX4Ljl1BKGv8kuACO7PD6ecFE6NURDw2E1CC-PxV1zh48ZLA_Q15G3JcMr5FGl7l2NDJlFnxxt1hctx4Cls5Sy1XA4WHUboXPI/s320/filagreenecklace03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313526838035101858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbGXf4atZHWOhZDqUJ8v6zVgfetme1s2V7T-kptdcG1vp3z5nYI0r_hhodWM0zNhgUmxO0oGguklb-fZcRWmUKW1sg2S0LjrIQyMunru-8AAdcXicVTUz1D8eKh9ce6VXQiciuuWI3LE/s1600-h/filagreenecklace04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbGXf4atZHWOhZDqUJ8v6zVgfetme1s2V7T-kptdcG1vp3z5nYI0r_hhodWM0zNhgUmxO0oGguklb-fZcRWmUKW1sg2S0LjrIQyMunru-8AAdcXicVTUz1D8eKh9ce6VXQiciuuWI3LE/s200/filagreenecklace04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313526732259804482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4S9Kd9h8qTcESTFxYkmmdLez_7EHksgG4jbkLcgOP1ojjRsDCmH7x_iaAdGw7MPJNeY_rjVzV0WoXRB3R6S65f-VRExdqIGk7EC0XpSVR4a_L4r3z4-bVhzsRESLxoDEVVZWzR_PZzA/s1600-h/grnfilagreencklc04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4S9Kd9h8qTcESTFxYkmmdLez_7EHksgG4jbkLcgOP1ojjRsDCmH7x_iaAdGw7MPJNeY_rjVzV0WoXRB3R6S65f-VRExdqIGk7EC0XpSVR4a_L4r3z4-bVhzsRESLxoDEVVZWzR_PZzA/s200/grnfilagreencklc04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313525820136525122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o7TyCBnBl40V36ySiYSCr_aCnDfjndtFd3xCfv_knVxjlt_6IDAOheWnpEsiKovtUM7j61glkk3Rh05px304_wQLurZLWEGKnv_-ri04GML2Whr_cHkY_KUy1pxavh4ZjEMiy9hgmeU/s1600-h/grnfilagreencklc03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o7TyCBnBl40V36ySiYSCr_aCnDfjndtFd3xCfv_knVxjlt_6IDAOheWnpEsiKovtUM7j61glkk3Rh05px304_wQLurZLWEGKnv_-ri04GML2Whr_cHkY_KUy1pxavh4ZjEMiy9hgmeU/s200/grnfilagreencklc03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313525703227943250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gLarxR1e6uAniKcj9vDcBKCAiiuUtuZkOJ1bADdHjtJU-bE-W5K8IoH1L4duH__GTSn9-WvizKnTFp1jPuad-qbFbaw39OIWwIoeU5H1BiYPbCeCS64SPXaqKTA4W_pKYBO0lKgVGYo/s1600-h/brownknottednecklace03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gLarxR1e6uAniKcj9vDcBKCAiiuUtuZkOJ1bADdHjtJU-bE-W5K8IoH1L4duH__GTSn9-WvizKnTFp1jPuad-qbFbaw39OIWwIoeU5H1BiYPbCeCS64SPXaqKTA4W_pKYBO0lKgVGYo/s200/brownknottednecklace03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313525492729404082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKxBEAvtsryd1VG0tCe9svQNBvImawismYyqJPbm5X3_UeABRXE9QuFl4gEXBOLoq0Lj9PKACKUS1engebr7S8YpNt_b8PhSUve6i8z0GBEmRmxsChws5_EQpDOR0LJqrWkdillj6H68/s1600-h/brownknottednecklace02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKxBEAvtsryd1VG0tCe9svQNBvImawismYyqJPbm5X3_UeABRXE9QuFl4gEXBOLoq0Lj9PKACKUS1engebr7S8YpNt_b8PhSUve6i8z0GBEmRmxsChws5_EQpDOR0LJqrWkdillj6H68/s320/brownknottednecklace02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313525371585518818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />About a decade ago, when I first found I was addicted to polymer clay, I fell in love with doing filigree work. I discovered eventually I could blend my clay colors as I was extruding them, and I became even more entranced.<br /><br />Shortly after this, I became a victim of a violent crime. I was at work, and a guy put a gun up to my head while he robbed us. I immediately had a severe post traumatic stress attack. I couldn't leave my house or go anywhere by myself, and work was out of the question. I sat around and thought about the incident over and over. My husband had to drive me to therapy appointments, because I thought I saw this guys car every time I got behind the wheel. After a week or two I eventually turned to my clay and my new discovery. For almost a month, I worked on these beads. While working on the beads, I just blocked everything out, and would get so caught up in them that I forgot to think about the armed robbery. That is just the way it is whenever I do the filigree work. They really did help me to heal. The beads are quite large, I really never meant to wear it. It was meant as an art piece, even though I didn't consider myself to be an artist at that time. A friend talked me into submitting them to a magazine, Jewelry Crafts, and to my amazement, they published the piece, with my instructions.<br /><br />I ended up developing fibromyalgia shortly after the armed robbery (there is a connection!) and over the years, my clay went on the back burner. I spent the last 3 yrs trying to work full time at the bead store, and that didn't really leave me much energy for my clay. I was still teaching polymer clay, but rarely brought the clay out just for myself. About a year ago, I decided I wanted to try some filigree again. I remembered how therapeutic it was, sitting and coiling the strands of clay, gently making precise cuts so everything fit together like a glove. I don't know how to explain it, other then it's almost like a trance-like state.<br /><br />I had been at a bead show last year, and my friends at <a href="http://shop.sonoranbeads.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y">Sonoran Beads </a>had trays of <a href="http://www.kazuribeadseast.com/Kazuri_Story.html">Kazuri</a> beads. I have a great fondness for <a href="http://www.kazuribeadseast.com/Kazuri_Story.html">Kazuri</a> beads, click on my link and read about how they are created! One of the trays held a beautiful selection of muted green beads and bright deep red beads. I was drawn to them immediately. When I got home that night I started working on my first filigree beads in many years. This bead was going to be this light happy celery colored bead and looked beautiful when I put it in the oven. Of course, my temp was off, I hadn't turned on my convection oven in months. The bead toasted and turned this darker, very gray shade of green. I was disgusted at first, but the more I looked at it, the more I thought, wait a minute, it's EVEN better then before! Some of the beads I picked out had that same exact shade! Serendipity! I love that! I made more beads, and more jewelry, and they are some of my favorites to wear now.Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-43727090486693477722009-01-23T16:00:00.014-09:002009-01-23T16:18:25.246-09:00Leaf Print Beads<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza7F8bwHKzDYo8bz9dVT0QMv1K_xj1HT8qzAF6r9kY5S0a5vSErROVBBiDwC_ghNhtc6zWcYphh6PrJ4t6WOnUeYXgnDHUOr7jZDePPaJnU1N4RvmIJyvmS9-EeFhWoGwQQ_7-Ej4Clw/s1600-h/leafbead04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza7F8bwHKzDYo8bz9dVT0QMv1K_xj1HT8qzAF6r9kY5S0a5vSErROVBBiDwC_ghNhtc6zWcYphh6PrJ4t6WOnUeYXgnDHUOr7jZDePPaJnU1N4RvmIJyvmS9-EeFhWoGwQQ_7-Ej4Clw/s200/leafbead04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294662725412037106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79_XCtl46SBHfEIom-M2_5f7s2iL5Zg3A8s0E09jGvqROiOeOQvM9-hDA44NDyzwhyphenhyphenXpxjD8kVPCwx1cvkhNNAs3RfUI0ySLDwAqUGIsY2G-IR-R4A__uidRdFdxLg4ULZEbFPNsV_lo/s1600-h/leafbead01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79_XCtl46SBHfEIom-M2_5f7s2iL5Zg3A8s0E09jGvqROiOeOQvM9-hDA44NDyzwhyphenhyphenXpxjD8kVPCwx1cvkhNNAs3RfUI0ySLDwAqUGIsY2G-IR-R4A__uidRdFdxLg4ULZEbFPNsV_lo/s320/leafbead01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294662408841044018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd819U5YTM0_UPqVueOmEW8eapgn3GxEyUX9c6_K1J4hHKMgawjtJrkmOhrWmNot_Q8nN-Nu0zY6YYMHqxLRd7A-tADOr1721HR6cyKYSdfSA9oNSD7E5uZMqHSajIuaot7wGdRMZrYJk/s1600-h/leafbead03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd819U5YTM0_UPqVueOmEW8eapgn3GxEyUX9c6_K1J4hHKMgawjtJrkmOhrWmNot_Q8nN-Nu0zY6YYMHqxLRd7A-tADOr1721HR6cyKYSdfSA9oNSD7E5uZMqHSajIuaot7wGdRMZrYJk/s200/leafbead03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294661013068425986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFDMz0lZXp-aIG5jr2Dt92wTq0jZbOkvkRQdJNb8O6nMHhN8_FXlONqYryqdi_2LWN4OwPdmDPESRS8wi5VE0QdGdtDxKKPFHITavtjumhH1jJlS1XOSjGTs6X0xpXoFhKM4TZZUs97k/s1600-h/leafbead02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFDMz0lZXp-aIG5jr2Dt92wTq0jZbOkvkRQdJNb8O6nMHhN8_FXlONqYryqdi_2LWN4OwPdmDPESRS8wi5VE0QdGdtDxKKPFHITavtjumhH1jJlS1XOSjGTs6X0xpXoFhKM4TZZUs97k/s200/leafbead02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294660912668265442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Wow, two posts in </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQPpMZ63XMSF3vVWzS3KSVFMA9ZA0CHdOBYvh555ux4Uc5DbovCZUTUutJF6clC30q9SYd5DZecbOjf_pT-gtV3HmCJq6y74jbz669kaBfdjoMWXY6BYvBWzCu4ns7mhVFRBcOFL6prw/s1600-h/leafbead05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQPpMZ63XMSF3vVWzS3KSVFMA9ZA0CHdOBYvh555ux4Uc5DbovCZUTUutJF6clC30q9SYd5DZecbOjf_pT-gtV3HmCJq6y74jbz669kaBfdjoMWXY6BYvBWzCu4ns7mhVFRBcOFL6prw/s200/leafbead05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294661174496178482" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">two days! Can you believe it? I have been inspired by my good buddy Karen Ottenbreit, who has been working hard on getting her </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://fishlipsandbirdteeth.com/">website</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> up and running, setting up a </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://birdteeth.wordpress.com/">blog</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and an </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://fishlip.etsy.com/">etsy shop</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">, and then jumping in and trying to figure out facebook with me. She made me feel like such a slug! So...hopefully her work ethic is going to rub off on me some!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I made a whole series of these leaf print beads a few months ago. Some of them were the colors you do find leaves in, shades of greens and browns. But I had the most fun making them in colors you don't see leaves in, aqua, pink, mauve, purple, turquoise and red. I want to make some more, most of them are long gone.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I used different leaves from my yard, and a few I snuck from my neighbors! Raspberry, strawberry, lilac and birch were all that I could find so late in the year. I am impatiently waiting for our long Alaskan winter to be open so I can add more leave print molds to my collection.</span>Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-18131517229441521762009-01-22T16:09:00.010-09:002009-01-23T16:13:31.014-09:00Hearts for Valentine's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-9lcreotIiZPUdldjWDeMsx73s61c759elzxyotrPRN0p37ptqEC8OrUU0SDy0wDfSCgBLfkwIxkMOtGY4-voAIsMowjZxu0ymO0wZ49EVRpFWbYAmyH-02kKUEQwlUFPEIXntwvgyM/s1600-h/2009heart03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-9lcreotIiZPUdldjWDeMsx73s61c759elzxyotrPRN0p37ptqEC8OrUU0SDy0wDfSCgBLfkwIxkMOtGY4-voAIsMowjZxu0ymO0wZ49EVRpFWbYAmyH-02kKUEQwlUFPEIXntwvgyM/s320/2009heart03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294294265342955362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM4g06xE0rCduobc35KRysdzWTwsaM1q06SyYWlFAu5iKJ_rXoO_ur9fOkQq4M0JRSGXIBTIhye6UUz61nBS8DbjX-XHxIVSZHohDMetfW67VW4V20UHLM79BjE0InxFRlV4p1LAg50A/s1600-h/2009heart02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM4g06xE0rCduobc35KRysdzWTwsaM1q06SyYWlFAu5iKJ_rXoO_ur9fOkQq4M0JRSGXIBTIhye6UUz61nBS8DbjX-XHxIVSZHohDMetfW67VW4V20UHLM79BjE0InxFRlV4p1LAg50A/s320/2009heart02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294294168105579826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Eusu2Qud6iLc5tfeVg3x6wgQnWgOhZ798sV6iSwfCTst3g6aD68aeYiMR71HLMlzOO1W5d31eip7aeGVYSeNBecW7vCSilLhZTBpuDFjsnETNle3zzD0UybSeztFlyXAi9sezqzs7FM/s1600-h/2009heart01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Eusu2Qud6iLc5tfeVg3x6wgQnWgOhZ798sV6iSwfCTst3g6aD68aeYiMR71HLMlzOO1W5d31eip7aeGVYSeNBecW7vCSilLhZTBpuDFjsnETNle3zzD0UybSeztFlyXAi9sezqzs7FM/s320/2009heart01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294294028106793026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have been working on some hearts for Valentine's Day. I myself like a lot of texture (and I LOVE that I don't have to sand them!) but the beady folks that buy my beads tend to prefer as much bling as possible, so I created a number of beads in both styles. The turquoise bead has a cane in it that I think was made by Leigh Ross, it looks like babies breathe and I love it. The rest of the canes are mine, old ones...I can't make a small cane to save my life, so I have lots and lots of canes I need to get some use out of and this was a good excuse to get them out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is just a small sample of what I have been working on. Hopefully I can sell some, and if not, I will have them as inventory for the Bead Expo at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, held in October. I haven't done a show in a many years, and I need to get back in the grove...the Bead Expo is always one of my favorites!</span>Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-55761588552996790912008-10-19T14:05:00.007-08:002008-10-19T14:25:11.197-08:00Vintaj & Vintage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3qYP-b4yVg-1GZxwSuP44Wt2QrzCLO5vorzcf6c1Vuyyfdpcf_geJjVaCePZv4pqEZr8kNMv9LDOKqp5EMHHSh7Q45FRXcL-YAwPjkJMfzs38kGoqy_g_CP9AGG7rJgwBx8RHDfgzXM/s1600-h/vintaj_apples.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3qYP-b4yVg-1GZxwSuP44Wt2QrzCLO5vorzcf6c1Vuyyfdpcf_geJjVaCePZv4pqEZr8kNMv9LDOKqp5EMHHSh7Q45FRXcL-YAwPjkJMfzs38kGoqy_g_CP9AGG7rJgwBx8RHDfgzXM/s320/vintaj_apples.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258994455567875874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcfUjgn1q1BSBkJje7nK8ftDpgWyWKMHUwM49ExKeDeD9oEwC2mi2qfonAuXwgVe7VIHVvDCGgkPpa5MJj8J9t4T7kesiHRgMZ4wFmXdNcfqGGW7JoNeTiTU0dEZblQ2jON_FH8KD_EQ/s1600-h/apple_earrings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcfUjgn1q1BSBkJje7nK8ftDpgWyWKMHUwM49ExKeDeD9oEwC2mi2qfonAuXwgVe7VIHVvDCGgkPpa5MJj8J9t4T7kesiHRgMZ4wFmXdNcfqGGW7JoNeTiTU0dEZblQ2jON_FH8KD_EQ/s320/apple_earrings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258993830262080370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZFif18x5QLGMv1GASt85kswPjWTgfgWP9WO8UuWY9fMr5sOhdB62FuK6IpI1-yOD0FaHrzSetvCWFdpvDAodgmXrZTho7JgdRVwtiRDqEp8RjKQ4s4FDvJ3_UmHHM5Y4L5pPkj31zes/s1600-h/vintaj_apples_upclose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZFif18x5QLGMv1GASt85kswPjWTgfgWP9WO8UuWY9fMr5sOhdB62FuK6IpI1-yOD0FaHrzSetvCWFdpvDAodgmXrZTho7JgdRVwtiRDqEp8RjKQ4s4FDvJ3_UmHHM5Y4L5pPkj31zes/s320/vintaj_apples_upclose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258993361158698818" border="0" /></a><br />As mentioned in a previous post, we had a bead show in town a few weeks ago. I picked up some <a href="http://www.vintaj.com/">Vintaj</a> goodies (chains, charms, pendants, findings) in one booth. At another booth I picked up a cool strand of vintage glass beads, all the same bright opaque red glass, but in different shapes.<br /><br />I wanted to make a necklace with some of my little apple beads, and thought I would use the <a href="http://www.vintaj.com/">Vintaj</a> with some red pearls. But like usually happens to me when making jewelry, I always change my mind numerous times. The vintage red glass was just what it needed, and I pulled in some brass colored pearls and beads in the drop at the bottom of the necklace. I have been making my own earwires recently, I love this shape, it stays in my ears better then a traditional shepards hook finding.Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-13046631860454790292008-10-15T18:39:00.007-08:002008-10-15T19:06:23.896-08:00Harvest Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhFymijFBrKxpJWuRUoBymmtSLMmPvNWHSgKieE7gkPzHArxv1FhJdPCAfQ9tMm1L_Qu2oFefGAUH1QVIRmVn1bG89KlQzfelwmac1MFpmkjODBb6OASBsT9Ezwgk8HQG0B90mFqdwEo/s1600-h/pumpkinharvest01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhFymijFBrKxpJWuRUoBymmtSLMmPvNWHSgKieE7gkPzHArxv1FhJdPCAfQ9tMm1L_Qu2oFefGAUH1QVIRmVn1bG89KlQzfelwmac1MFpmkjODBb6OASBsT9Ezwgk8HQG0B90mFqdwEo/s320/pumpkinharvest01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257577599857007426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />It all started with some pumpkin beads. I don't usually make these kind of beads, in fact I can only remember making them once in the 12+ years I have worked with polymer clay. I thought I had made a ton of them, but they were all snapped up by my co-workers. I had to make about 100 more! I also got several requests for apples, and I love apples, so I thought, sure, I can try! I am pretty happy with how they turned out! I am working on a necklace with some red apples, red pearls and <a href="http://www.vintaj.com/">Vintaj</a> findings, I'll put up the picture when I get it finished.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgA7x3cGJpxbnSK4E_7eo3liBCEXl3SShH3hMidckuxj_tvBZWeMjgwuIK3bA3EyegS3k2_GWiqkZf8sQho0rAsCL0B37PO55eTdE2B9gQIbwsICdDN4LmHgodzYfF5ixut7r9XLVd9k/s1600-h/appleharvest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgA7x3cGJpxbnSK4E_7eo3liBCEXl3SShH3hMidckuxj_tvBZWeMjgwuIK3bA3EyegS3k2_GWiqkZf8sQho0rAsCL0B37PO55eTdE2B9gQIbwsICdDN4LmHgodzYfF5ixut7r9XLVd9k/s320/appleharvest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257577099686394258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc1KOdkNQM2M02YUmCMfLL1btJOjFgD8ESgmHdzWP6aXFgyfTOj0R7cMNaFc35KnQYF9w8ZJP8xGb9eXr-TTEUFYvsO003RgqOoE_patBPCa-lMH9qShYUfT2VPqL39AOmYhv42yJQ00/s1600-h/line_of_apples.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc1KOdkNQM2M02YUmCMfLL1btJOjFgD8ESgmHdzWP6aXFgyfTOj0R7cMNaFc35KnQYF9w8ZJP8xGb9eXr-TTEUFYvsO003RgqOoE_patBPCa-lMH9qShYUfT2VPqL39AOmYhv42yJQ00/s320/line_of_apples.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257576906692007282" border="0" /></a>Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-74165677387519024542008-10-12T13:31:00.003-08:002008-10-12T13:38:59.792-08:00The mystery is solved!I knew someone over at PCC would be able to help me find out the name of the artist, and it only took a few hours for the right person to show up with the info. Thank you Tonja! Gosh, I love the internet. The artist is Cathy, "dans la Boutique de Cathy" and she has an<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5518984"> etsy shop</a>!<br /><br />I never get to see much clay work up here in AK. I saw 2 Klew beads at a show once. I was so surprised to find this wonderful pendant, and then to find out how far it had come! I wish my scan of it was better, it's fun and funky and elegant all at the same time.Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-31274670541751226482008-10-12T07:01:00.005-08:002008-10-15T19:07:12.965-08:00Can you name this artist?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8VAbfcF492pFDfWy0K7HCUzeJMJj0KPsHI-73oNFnvWQX-0OGLPzhK8eUX4WlpTVUkM0Gd6MThy1WzT0tFWAFGLVs8hDJZMfaAzq09kp8_ZkigN-5b__o00HCEks64IuEnaKpzCwASg/s1600-h/frenchclay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8VAbfcF492pFDfWy0K7HCUzeJMJj0KPsHI-73oNFnvWQX-0OGLPzhK8eUX4WlpTVUkM0Gd6MThy1WzT0tFWAFGLVs8hDJZMfaAzq09kp8_ZkigN-5b__o00HCEks64IuEnaKpzCwASg/s320/frenchclay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256284429776861058" border="0" /></a><br />We had a bead show in town this weekend, and I found a beautiful treasure. One of the vendors, the very first vendor as I walked in the door, had beautiful polymer clay pendants. It took forever to pick out the one I wanted. The vendor said it was made in France, but she couldn't remember the name of the artist. I really would like to know who made it. I figure someone out there will recognize it! It is really wonderful, so much detail!<br /><br />I am shocked to see that my last and only post on this blog was over a year ago. I barely touched my clay since then. Pretty much the only time I did touch it is when I was teaching. Things have changed recently though, I have gone to work part time instead of full time. Now that I have a bit of energy at the end of my day I am working with my clay again! I actually have some beads I would like to show, but I am having difficulty photographing them. I built a little light box but still need a few more lights. Please check back soon and I'll have some show and tell for the first time in years.<br /><br />Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me identify the creator of this beautiful pendant!Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477727644322427475.post-53327630564811308322007-09-30T13:19:00.000-08:002007-09-30T13:54:56.384-08:00New Beginnings"<span style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;">Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up."<br /></span><div align="right"><span style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;">— James Belasco and Ralph Stayer<br /><i>Flight of the Buffalo</i></span></div><br /><br />Well...for someone who used to HATE change, I sure have been embracing it a lot lately. I recently made the decision to shut down my polymer clay website, <a href="http://www.kelliesklay.com/">Kellie's Klay</a> . It has actually been on my mind for close to a year, but I didn't want to rush anything. lol For many years I was an active part of the online polymer clay community, but kinda fell off the face of the earth about 3 years ago. My website, which had been so important to me for so long, just kind of existed, I paid for it but that is about all I did. I didn't update it, hell, I rarely even went to look at it. It just wasn't important to me anymore. Neither was my clay.<br /><br />During the last 3 years I have been doing beadwork, but more importantly, I was working on myself. I guess I have had what they call a spiritual awakening. I have learned not to run from change, but to handle it. Sometimes change is not always bad, and when it is, I have learned how to deal with it. I won't get all sentimental about it here, because this is not the place for it, but believe me, things are great in my life, for the first time in my life. I am happy!<br /><br />The idea of closing down my website feels very liberating to me. I am new, my work is new, and that site doesn't show any of that. It is so big, that changing it is overwhelming. I want a new site that shows the new things in my life!<br /><br />I cut all my hair off a few months ago, the first time I had short hair in almost 20 yrs. I might have had 10 hair trims during all that time! I was hiding behind it, it had to go. Finally my outside matched my new inside. I have not regretted cutting my hair once. I see this closing of the old site, and the birth of the new site I have in mind, as being a very similar thing. That may not make sense to many of you, but I know a few of you out there will understand what I am trying to say. I am working with my clay again, becoming obsessed at times with it again, and I need a new site to reflect that change.<br /><br />Soon I promise to post some pictures of the kind of work I have been doing recently. My dear friend Libby and Jenn encouraged me to try blogspot. I felt like I didn't have anything to say, which is very funny. Anyone who knows me knows I have a big mouth, a loud sense of humor, lots of sarcasm and an opinion about everything. I just haven't shared that online in so long, it feels a bit weird to be doing it again.<br /><br />Expect to see a lot of different kinds of beadwork in my blog, with pc beads incorporated. I work at a bead store and I have spent the time I have worked there (5 1/2 yrs) trying to learn everything I could learn. I only have 2 more years to work there, and so now I feel this urgent need to up the speed of my education, I must learn more, NOW!!! I'll share that journey here.<br /><br />thanks for reading my ramblings,<br />kellie<br />(who has spent the weekend teaching herself Kumihimo! what fun! and it will look great with some pc beads)Kellie Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849885994033328968noreply@blogger.com5