It's been so long since I blogged, that I'm not really sure where to start or with what! I guess what is mostly on my mind is making a ring a day for the Ring a Day group on Flickr www.flickr.com/groups/rad2010. Check it out, you will be amazed by the creativity. I wasn't sure that I wanted to do it because it seemed like a big commitment -- Ring a Day for a year! Every day! Of course, there's no huge penalty if you don't end up making a ring every day, or drop out of the group, only your own deep sense of failure of never being able to follow through on anything , again!!

So I'm in. I'm on ring 25 of 365.

This has been one of the most inspirational and fun groups I've been a part of in a long time. The ideas, designs, photos, and conceptual art abounds! So for right now the commitment hasn't been a big thing. Actually, Ring a Day is all I think about and want to do. It's this part of my life where I can create with no rules (except that it has to be a ring, a day). Then I get lots of practice taking photos and then I post it and share thoughts and comments with a group of obsessed, immensly creative and talented like minded people that I wouldn't know anything about if it weren't for this crazy Flickr Group.

I walk around my house and yard looking at everything I see, thinking, can I put this on my finger?!!! Apparently, I'm not alone.

The ring above is my 1st ring. It is about 15 pieces of white paper, cut into a ring shape and wrapped with brass wire. Then I torch the paper and singe it. You will learn that I almost always must torch things! My brother had a similar obsession when we were growing up. You'll have to wait for that story.

What I did on my Sunday

I went to the gym, I had some leftover popcorn from last night, I went on Facebook -- Restaurant City, yes I'm addicted, I won't even begin to talk about Pet Society! (How old am I?) I colored my hair (old enough to have to color my hair), fed the dogs, found some safety pins for my son, watched my other son play with the dogs, watched Legally Blonde, read a book, finished the following earcuff and took pictures of it and posted it, and now I'm hungry. The popcorn wasn't very filling. I'm thinking scrambled egg sandwich!!

Hours-n-hours

Well, I finally took some new pictures of things I've been working on...here's one (see above). Took several hours to get to that point. On a roll now, but it's getting late, but I'll just work on onnnee moooreee..... I'm in PhotoShop, I'm cutting, I'm pastin, I'm workin on images, I'm almost done........and then.......PhotoShop decides to 'quit unexpectedly!' Augh! Guess I'll go to bed instead!

Lost Goddesses

The inspiration for this series of pendants and brooches comes from this book I got called Lost Goddesses of Early Greece - A Collection of Pre-Hellenic Myths by Charlene Spretnak. Goddesses were "associated with order, wisdom, protection, and the life-giving process." In the patriarchal myths that came thousands of years later they were turned into jealous, troublesome, frivolous goddesses.

So I take the myths and use my old family photos to turn them into sort of a modern day icon...

This is from the myth of Pandora, where instead of opening a box of troubles because of her curiosity, she becomes Pandora..."Giver of All Gifts... I bring you wonder, curiosity, memory. I bring you wisdom. I bring you justice with mercy. I bring you caring and communal bonds. I bring you courage, strength, endurance. I bring you loving kindness for all beings. I bring you the seeds of peace." (p. 56-7, Lost Goddesses of Early Greece, Charlene Spretnak, Beacon Press, 1984.)

Is this lame or what?!!

Well my youngest son just graduated from high school last week! However, after the ceremony when he went to get his actual diploma... he got this paper instead saying he hadn't returned a book and wouldn't get his diploma until he brought the book back or paid $73!!!!

Well, he said that he didn't have any books out! So we had to go back to school on Monday and check it out and when they looked him up on the computer they found out that he DIDN'T have any books out!!!!!

Has this ever happened to you or someone you love?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Computer Work or Metal Work?

Thought I had this great 4 day weekend with nothing to do but play with metal making, but for some reason(s) it didn't quite happen like I planned. Fundraisers, graduation parties, auctions and lets not forget ... 'the computer!'  And you know I wasn't just on Facebook playing Word Challenge (ok not the whole time), but I was updating my pictures and website (www.evelynmarkasky.com -- let me know what you think) and it feels like I'm only there for maybe an hour but then I look up at the clock and it's been about 5 hours! Another lost weekend!

My Husband's Store is Having a Sale!! Memorial Day Weekend

Sylvan Music, Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-1917

www.sylvanmusic.com