I love this interview with Sir Ken Robinson – he shares a lot of insight packed into a one-minute time frame.
“Everybody is creative – it comes with the kit”
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Category Archives: Resources
Arts, letters & amber – a studio visit
Carolyn Eastman Cazares is a Woman of Letters – Hebrew letters. She fell in love with the letterforms over a decade ago and paints them in layered compositions that transcend translation. I visited Carolyn at her Studio on the edge of the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio, and I was astounded with the diversity and passion in her work. When she falls in love with something – Hebrew letters, chunks of amber, faces that compel her, she is prolific in her explorations. Her amber and copper wire jewelry is lyrical – she says that amber is a combination of “liquid sunshine and ancient wisdom.”
She also makes a great chocolate gluten-free cake (and gave me the recipe). We talked for over an hour about creativity, relationships and art, and what inspires us, and we found a lot of common ground. If you’ve visited my house and my studio, you can see from the photos that Carolyn and I share a lot of the same kinds of “artists’ stuff”! Thanks for the visit, Carolyn – I will be back!
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- As a calligrapher, Carolyn studied and painted the word Joy for a year
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- Hebrew letters, layered and composed
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- One of her spiral paintings – she says, “I went crazy for spirals”
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- I love this evocative composition
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- Hebrew letters, beautiful and cryptic
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- Carolyn’s “big” studio – she is prolific
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- A shelf in Carolyn’s “little” studio – like me, she loves visual collage
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- Another area for inspiration
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- Carolyn’s amber jewelry – it’s so light!
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- Another studio view
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- Copper wire and amber
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- . . .and turquoise
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- crocheted copper wire and amber
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- another stunning piece, with crystals
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- wonderful range of design
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- a painting for her sister
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- We share a lot of the same book titles
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- Carolyn at a studio work table
Guest Blogger: Carla Pineda, Viva Bookstore
Let me introduce my dear friend, Carla Pineda, writer, retreat leader and certified spiritual director – and, lucky for me, assistant manager at Viva Bookstore, one of my favorite places to visit. We were talking the other day about the upcoming Sacred Ground exhibit, and I asked her to tell us about some of the books she’s bringing on Sunday to celebrate the art exhibit, the new Cathedral Park Meditation Walk, and the empowering partnership between the visual arts and the literary arts. (Speaking of partnerships, Carla and I have some great ideas for exciting events at the Studio – stay tuned.) Here’s Carla! . . . . . . . . . . .
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I am so excited ab
out the Sacred Ground Art Show at Bishop Jones Center this Sunday.
Scouting the shelves here at Viva Bookstore for books to bring to the show has been so much fun. I’ve found ones that speak of landscape, creation, beauty, prayer ,and the elements. The words water, wind, earth, and fire, pilgrimage and thoughtful gardening grace the covers of books I’m bringing. One of my favorite books this year is entitled, “Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems about Birds.” 
It’s about more than birds. I think birds are poets we often miss listening to and I wonder how many different bird voices fill the skies around the sacred ground of Jones Center. “Nature as Spiritual Practice” is a book I haven’t read but just the idea of “practicing” nature makes me want to give it a try. I think I’ll do a little practicing on Sunday. Another title, “The 
Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality” is one of my favorite books. Yes, I know Jones Center isn’t desert or mountain but I wonder if, in the past, before the city grew up around it, and before it became what it is today, if those who settled here didn’t feel it as fierce. So, on Sunday I’m going to listen, walk, explore and experience this special place, its history and the gifts of talented artists. Hope to see you there! And, course, I’ll have books!
My mother’s day present
Happy Mother’s Day, all . . .Rick, my son, always writes a Mother’s Day post on his blog, Myth and Mystery. Today, he revisited one of my favorites from 2007 – so much has changed, but this will always stay with me – thanks, Rick – I am a lucky mom!!
My own mom, also in San Antonio, doesn’t really believe in Mother’s Day, since it’s a Hallmark/FTD conspiracy to sell greeting cards and flowers. Nevertheless, I think it’s good to have day like this to reflect on how amazingly blessed I am to have a great mother. For years, I have been known around San Antonio as “Lyn’s son,” because everyone — I mean everyone — knows and loves my mom. She’s an accomplished artist, a musician, a writer, and an extremely gifted teacher. The house I grew up in was a work of art itself, and a natural gathering place for actors, artists, and writers. Growing up, it didn’t take me long to realize just how unique my mom was. Not everyone had a Renaissance woman for a mother. She always allowed me space to discover my own interests. She never pushed or even suggested, but in a fertile environment like our home, how could I not have explored writing, music, art? I was not an over-scheduled kid. I remember frequently complaining to my mom that I was bored. She would brainstorm ideas with me, but in the end, it was up to me to entertain myself. I’m convinced this turned me into a writer. I had to look inward for my own stories and my own fantasy worlds. I wonder if kids today have time to do this, between soccer practice and recitals and the rest of their ultra-scheduled lives. I hope they do. My mom was my first reader, my first editor, my first fan. She continues to be one of my “front line” critics every time I print out a new manuscript, even if her comments are usually, “I love this, and I love this, and I REALLY love this.” Hey, she’s my mom. She’s entitled! So thanks, Mom. It’s nice to be called a bestselling author or winner of such-and-such award, but it’s a real honor — a very great privilege — to be Lyn’s son.
Discovery: The Blue Stuff
I am passing on to you a tip about something which, until this morning, I had never tried and is pretty amazing – it’s blue (and white) stuff. I ordered it from a place called Cool Tools, which specializes in supplies for metal clay artists. This is a mold-making compound – technically it’s called Mega-Mold Silicone RTV Molding Compound and it uses a process called RTV, which means room temperature vulcanizing. Vulcanizing is a chemical process that converts polymer into durable material. Who knew??
So, you squish the blue part with the white part and push it against something you want to make a mold of. I swear, five minutes later it’s ready to go! Jan Longfellow told me that she has used it to make molds for her silver clay jewelry. it’s pretty amazing – here are some photos – I don’t know quite where I’m going with it, but it is sooooo much fun to play with! You could make a mold of your big toe, or your car key or a favorite brooch – the possibilities are positively goofy!
The Kit – one blue, one white – squish together equal amounts
The mold after five minutes, the original object, and the clay copy
The mold setting up on a sculpture’s hand
Taking off the mold
A molded wing off the same sculpture
More molded clay objects – the mold makes the clay oily – weird
Kay Simpson, Fiesta Finery and FashionAbility
I am so proud of my long-time friend, Kay Simpson! She had the vision to recognize a need for attractive outfits for women with disabilities, so she started her own company, FashionAbility, not long ago. She designed and sewed the clothing herself, adding caring touches like Velcro and custom closures that make these outfits both beautiful and convenient to put on. Kay and FashionAbility will be featured at Fiesta Especial, an official Fiesta San Antonio event created for children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental differences and the family and friends who love them. Watch for Kay on a live remote segment by KABB Fox 29 at 7 a.m. Friday from Fiesta. I put together a video (below) for her to use at the event to show off colorful and comfortable clothing line. The model is Ms. Wheelchair America, lovely Mariah Kilbourne.
Yay for Kay! Her design skills and compassionate caring are awesome!
Shards and Strands
Last night I got an email from artist Dawn Zichko, whose blog, Mental Mohair is full of inspiring ideas for thought and new work. Dawn had ordered some Shard Faces from my Etsy shop in early February. I always ask buyers if they’ll send me pictures of how they use the little faces, but these fiber hangings that she and her daughter did just blew me away. Look at this amazing combination of strands of knitted yarn, ribbon, twigs – beautiful work. There’s another photo here. Thanks for letting me share these, Dawn. I love your work and your blog.
Spirit Dolls, Opening Night
The second big Studio event in two days was just as enjoyable as the poetry reading in a different way – a nice crowd of artisans and friends gathered to see the Spirit Dolls and to ask questions about their construction and uses. There was lots of curiosity and admiration for the work, especially when the guests learned that the dolls had been constructed in just two hours during the workshop. Once again, many of the people who came tonight saw old friends that they hadn’t seen in years or discovered new connections with people they hadn’t met before. I love it when that happens! There’s something about that Studio space that encourages those kinds of connections . . .. . and here’s a video from this lovely evening:
Mala and Prayer Flag Workshop
There are several spots left in Sunday’s workshop – it should be low key and relaxing. We’re creating Wrist Malas for quiet meditation and Prayer Flags to celebrate spring and rebirth. I had the funny experience yesterday of trying to video myself making a wrist mala. It didn’t work very well, but here are some excerpts from the process. Making the mala, however, was a wonderful exercise in quiet concentration, counting and joining the beads, winding the tassel 21 times, tying it all together. If you’d like to join the workshop this Sunday from 3-5, send me an email. Just bring yourself – I’ll have everything you need to work with, including a shell to hold your Mala.
Sunday Pass-along: A Manifesto
I am sitting here at my desk trying to remember what the heck my Evernote password is (and what I was even going to look for in Evernote) when I came across this link I’d saved to a Blog called Inspired Home Office by Jen Hofmann.
This is her most popular post – read it and you’ll see why. Here’s the link:
A Manifesto for Cluttered Creatives – and here’s my favorite excerpt (the whole thing is great):
I have a right to a sacred space
that is free from intrusions
that is free from guilt
that completely supports my spirit
that is truly sacred space
powerful as an ancient circle of standing stones
Right on!