magic_studio.mov

Baskets are ORBS too

My lastest ORBS adventure involves orbs of a different sort. By weaving the strips instead of rolling them a container is born.
This isn't the first time I've been obsessed with containers. Or weaving. Potholders anyone? Some basket forms are made in essentially the same way.
I didn't want to use duct tape in making these and tried at first to use only strips of the aseptic containers. But I didn't love how it worked so ended up using sterling silver wire at the top on this one, and hanging a few metal washers from the closures. (Nothing like diving into my found object collection!) More embellishments to come.
On another note, since I have been spending so much less time in the concrete jungle (aka New York City), I thought I might start showing ORBS at more local venues. I miss their celebrity appearances. There are plenty of museums, galleries and other places of note in the Hudson Valley and Berkshires. And I've been trying to get up to Mass MOCA all summer.
On it.

May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of time honored echniques and fabulously fun and functional forms.

Full Diagnosis?

A classic referral again.HO: "Hi I'm calling to refer a case, this patient is a known case of Parkinson's disease on oral Flecainide..."MO: "Wait, she's on Flecainide? Why? Do you know what is that?"HO: "Hmm...it's one of the Parkinson's treatment..."MO: "No it's an antiarrhythmic agent. You sure of the drug name? And you're calling from which department?"HO: "I'm calling from obstetric ward..the

Go where the energy is

A number of weeks ago I wrote a blog post for a website and got so many notes back on the content, my head was swirling. Fast forward to this week. I wrote and submitted 2 blog posts to Creativity Portal and got back a note of gratitude and accolades. So I ask you? Which blog should I write for? The one that loves my work just as it is? Or the one that wants a laundry list of revises?
While I hate the idea of being an instant gratification junkie, I do believe I've spent enough of my life unlocking doors with tricky key holes. Why not walk through doors that swing open?
My Svaroopa yoga teacher at Half Moon Yoga Barn in Millbrook says, "You've already done all the work." And I love how that idea applies to much more than a restorative pose. It's good to let all the work we've already done take us to new levels, without exerting so much effort.
May your day be infused with the Magic Medicine of ease.

Nephrologist's Nightmare

Have you encountered any patient who just can't keep any line/cannula in his/her body? I've met a difficult one, and I must say that I'm really amazed.This is a patient with advanced chronic kidney disease, came to us with acute on chronic renal failure needing hemodialysis. Her caretaker revealed that, she used to be followed-up in another hospital, was planned for CAPD as long term RRT (renal

bone

This was my first bone carving project. It started as a shard that broke off a larger piece. I spent 2 days grinding it against a rock to create the needle like shape. The bone is about 2 inches long. I added the found feathers and semi-precious stone beads. This is one in a series of embellished found objects I've been working on for the last several months, all of which incorporate 18 gold threads.

At left is another bone shard that I am working on making into a needle form using jewelry files. It is thin, flat and getting pretty sharp. At right is a complete piece of bone (not a shard) that I am grinding using only a stone. It has more dimension is very rounded particularly at the point and gets flatter nearer the thicker end.

This last image (at top) is a piece of bone that broke off in a shape that suggested a running horse head to me. I have been using jewelry files and saws to tease out the form. The piece below it was a similar shape so I am working to do the same in a mirror image.

What's amazing to me about this process is how I am circling back around to skills I haven't really used in years. When I was living in Los Angeles I took fine jewelry making classes, and learned basic filing and sawing and solderning skills. The tools and skills are coming in handy now. And bone is softer than metal.

my newest obession

Bone needles. Made by hand. From the deer bone I've been collecting for years. Still working on my first one. Gives you a real appreciation of primitive peoples and the time it took to make things. The unique and special quality of each object made. And the gift of taking one's time.
http://www.gourdsofthesouthwest.com/bones.htm
http://www.abbemuseum.org/pages/collections/curator-features/bone-needles.html
http://housebarra.com/EP/ep02/18bone.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK6U5CXJROU

Speech Mistake

Came across this clip..just listen to what the guy said at 0:10 and you'll know..and it has become a joke now. I actually quite pity him, he must be lack of sleep the night before!